Baby Care & Nursing

The First Weeks Of Life:

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Nothing can really prepare you for the reality of having a child.The first weeks of your baby's life can seem like a chaotic whirlwind of new experiences and sensations,as you get to know this new person in your lives,and adapt to the feeling of being a parent.You have so much to learn:how to feed and nourish your baby,how to dress her and care for her skin,what her likes and what her doesn't like.Looking after a new baby involves a combinations of warmth,attention and responsiveness,and although some of this will be instinctive,some has to be learnt new-by both of you.You'll learn new skills too:before long eating one handed while your baby feeds will be your second nature.But the early phase of adjustment and chaos won't last long.This chapter tells how one couple and their new baby coped in the first few weeks.Every baby is different,and you will find your own way of getting through the first weeks of life.

First days at home:

Life with your new baby will take you by surprise.Her apparent vulnarebility produces new,powerful feelings within you,while a turmoil of emotions makes you burst into tears for no reason,or become distressed by,say,the television news.Don't fight your feelings;concentrate on the new life that you are nurturing.

Becoming a Family:

Now there are three of you,and everything changes.Your partner is no longer your lover,he's your companion and ally in this new adventure of parenthood-and she's as much his baby as yours.Your tried and tested family relationships will subtly change too;you're not a son or a daughter any more,you're parent,with a new life depending on you.No matter how topsy-turvy your life seems at that time,try to make time for your partner.Often it is the new father who is most shell-shocked in the days immediately following the birth,and he needs your support as much as you need his.Let him share in the care of your baby;he may be more nervous than you handling the baby's floppy little body,but he will soon grow more confident.

Building A Loving Relationship:

Right from the beginning your relationship with your new born baby is intense,two-way one that will grow into a real and lasting love.As you bring your baby up close to your talk and coo,  your baby will gaze reply at your face and eye contact plays a big part when you are falling in love.Your baby will reward your efforts to calm her by quietening at the sound of your voice when you sing and talk to her.And he or she's miserable your baby wants you to comfort him or her.

Involving Other Family Members:

Your parents,sisters and brothers will be keen to meet the new baby:but don't feel guilty about limiting visitors if you want to.

Getting Plenty Of Rest:

Every new mother has to learn to cope with too little sleep.Plenty of rest whenever you can snatch it is only answer-and it's especially important if you're breast feeding.Rest whenever you baby sleeps,even if you don't sleep.Your body isn't strong enough yet for srenuous work,and the housework can go undone for now.

Premature Babies:

Your baby's first six weeks at home be difficult if he or she born prematurely.Your baby may cry incessantly and refuse to be comforted;or be very sleepy and reluctant to feed.In addition to your natural anxiety about your baby you may feel rejected by her or him:your baby doesn't make you feel as if he or she loves you,so it's that much harder to love your baby in return.Your pre term baby will need extra care from you;she or he loses heat quickly,so you need to keep your home warm for your baby,especially when bathing or changing and your baby will need frequent feeding to help him or her grow.Even though your baby may have a small appetite and be a trouble-some feeder,offer him or her a feed as often as every three hours,letting your baby take as much as he or she wants at each feed.concentrate on giving the care your baby needs:in time your baby will grow more responsive to you and you will learn to understand your baby better.

Handling Your Baby:

 From an early age your baby needs closeness and comfort,warmth and sleep.To begin with,you will probably feel quite nervous about handling and cuddling him or her;your hands seems so clumsy,his limbs so floppy,his head and neck so fragile.Your normal careful handling wont hurt him;even the soft fontanelle on the top of his head has a tough membrane to protect it.But you may startle him if you pick your baby up suddenly,making him fling his limbs out or frighten him if he thinks he will fall.It wont be long before you're both much more confident of each other.As your baby gains control over his muscles,he may enjoy some boisterous games-at four or five months he may love to be swung up above your head or perched high on your shoulders.If he's timid-and some babies are-handle him gently until he is more outgoing.Respond to your baby's moods and let him set the pace of your physical play.

Its very important to talk to your baby as you transfer one position to another-your voice is familiar and reassuring.Remember that until he or she about eight weeks old your baby can not control its muscles.You need to support your baby's body all the time,so that her or his head doesn't flop or limbs dangle.