In the first few weeks, looking after yourself is important. This means eating well and doing some physical activity. It also means taking opportunities to rest whenever you can, like when your baby sleeps. Getting help from family and friends can make a big difference too.
Coping with your baby
Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby. And, although people may not openly discuss many of the challenges in these early weeks of parenthood (if at all), there are a number of common hurdles you may face at this time.
Your baby won't have many notable milestones at 1-week-old. Again, your baby is basically a ball of reflexes at this stage and will spend the majority of their time either eating or sleeping. That said, when your baby does have those small moments of wakefulness, you may notice a few things.
Night two can bring way more crying that the first 24 hours. The theory is that during the second to third day postpartum, your newborn is discovering they are no longer in the comforts of your womb. They are experiencing many new firsts – the feeling of hunger, cold air across their skin, lights and stimulation etc…
Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day. Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours.
The neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) is the crucial period for child survival; as this period carries the highest risk of deaths per day than any other period during the childhood. The first month of life is also a foundational period for lifelong health and development.
Second Night Syndrome
Generally occurs about 24 hours after birth for almost every baby. Your baby will want to be on the breast constantly but quickly fall asleep. If you put him down, he will probably wake up. If you put him back to breast, he will feed for a short time and fall asleep.
However, many babies tend to get "easier" around 3 to 4 months old.
Sleepless nights are common in new parenthood, but they do not last forever. Most babies will begin to sleep for longer periods at night from the age of 6 months old. Newborn babies need to feed every few hours until the age of 3 months. After this, it is normal for infants to feed once or twice during the night.
The first week with a newborn can leave you feeling sore, sleepy, and a little weepy. Learn what else to expect. Your first week with a newborn can be blissful, anxiety-ridden, and sleepless. Many parents feel like emotional wrecks during this time and struggle to settle into a routine.
In essence, the first night at home with your newborn may be more stressful than you hope due to the fact that both you and your little one have a lot of adjustments to make together. It's perfectly normal and expected for newborns to be fussy and cry more when we try to put them down.
On Day 2, your baby wakes up to the world and roots more frequently. On this day, you might feel she's on your breast non-stop, but that's normal. As long as you're not in pain, keep up with these frequent feedings, because they give your baby much-needed colostrum and help speed your transition into mature milk.
1-3 Months
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest.
From clothing to food and security, the list can seem daunting. There are six basic needs that all newborn babies require: security, clothing, enough sleep, nutritious food, sensory stimulation, love, and attention.
But there are no set rules about how long to wait before taking a newborn out into the world or when to let people near the baby. In fact, if the weather is nice, you should feel free to take your baby outside whenever you feel up to it — you both would both probably enjoy a stroll outside and some fresh air!
You should stop swaddling your baby when he starts attempting to roll over. Many babies start working on this move at about 2 months old. Swaddling once your baby can roll over may increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and suffocation.
Very young babies have little idea of day or night and most wake regularly around the clock every 2 or 3 hours needing a feed and attention. In the first few months it is common for babies to wake regularly at night for feeds at least 2 or 3 times. As a guide, many babies sleep 14-20 hours a day in the first weeks.
It's completely normal (and developmentally appropriate) for naps to be anywhere between 20-120 minutes during those first few months. If your newborn is still sleeping at 2 hours, I would encourage you to wake them in order to make sure your baby is getting the full feedings and active awake time they need.
But just how much are we really missing out on? A recent Snuz survey of 1,300 parents found that 7 out of 10 parents lose an average of three hours of sleep every night in their baby's first year. These three hours a night accumulate to a shocking 133 nights worth of sleep sacrificed before baby's first birthday.