1. Baby may be, well, a little funny-looking
His head may be smooshed from his journey through the birth
canal, and he might be sporting a "bodysuit" of fine hair called
lanugo. He could also be puffy-faced and have eyes that are often shut
(and a little gooey). After all, he just spent nine months in the womb.
But pretty soon, he'll resemble that beautiful baby you imagined.
2. Don't expect rewards - smiles - until about the 6-week mark
Up until then, you're working for a boss who only complains! To get
through the exhaustion and emotional upheaval, keep this in mind: your
efforts aren't lost on baby in those early days. "He feels comforted by
his father or mother, he feels attachment, he likes to be held," says
Los Angeles-based pediatrician Christopher Tolcher, MD.
3. Give baby sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off
If it's kept dry, it falls off faster - usually within two weeks. Besides, newborns
don't get very dirty! If the cord does get wet, pat it dry. And if the
stump bleeds a little when the cord falls off, that's okay, too, as
Alyson Bracken, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, learned. "It scared me
at first," she says, but then she found out that, as with a scab, mild
bleeding was normal.
4. The soft spot can handle some handling
"I was terrified of the soft spot," admits April Hardwick, of New
York City, referring to the opening in the skull, also called the
fontanel, which allows baby to maneuver out of the birth canal. "Gemma had a full head of hair at birth,
and I was initially afraid to comb over the soft spot," Hardwick says.
But there was no need to worry: "It's okay to touch the soft spot and
baby's hair near it," says Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, pediatrician and
author of Mommy Calls. The spot may pulsate because it's directly over
blood vessels covering the brain.
5. She'll let you know if she's getting enough food
Baby needs to eat every two to three hours -- but if you're nursing,
it's tough to know how much milk she's getting. "The baby's weight is
the best indicator in the early days," says Dr. Tolcher. Your
pediatrician will check it within a few days of discharge. A newborn
loses 5 to 8 percent of her birth-weight within the first week but
should gain it back by the second. Diaper-counting can also act as a
gauge: her schedule those first five days is haphazard, but after that,
you'll see five to six wet diapers a day, and at least one or two stools.
6. Dry skin is the norm for newborns
Initially, he may be soft and silky, but that changes. "If you soaked
yourself in liquid for nine months and then hit the air, you'd be dry
too!" says Laura Jana, MD, pediatrician and coauthor of Heading Home
With Your Newborn. You
don't have to do anything about dry skin (it typically peels and flakes
off), but if you're so inclined, reach for a hypoallergenic baby lotion
that is fragrance-free. Little pink bumps, diaper rashes, and even baby acne
may also make an appearance. "Acne tends to last for a few months," Dr.
Jana says. "So get those cute newborn pics before one month!"
7. You don't have to hole up at home
"Lead a normal life, but use common sense when you go out in public,"
Dr. Tolcher says. Keep baby out of the sun, and avoid sick people (no toddler birthday
parties!) and crowded enclosed spaces (such as the mall during the
holidays). "Teach older siblings to touch baby's feet instead of her
hands and face, which will help prevent the spread of infection," he
adds. And make your older child the hygiene police, says Dr. Jana. He'll
love telling guests, "Don't touch the baby without washing your hands."
8. Babies cry a lot - that's how they communicate!
Their piercing wails will let you know they're hungry, cold, have a
dirty diaper, or want to be held. These early "conversations" can be
frustrating, but rest assured, you'll get a better handle on what she
needs in time. Laurie May, of Boardman, Ohio, and her husband quickly
learned to read their daughter's hunger signal. When they were brand-new
parents, they set an alarm to go off every two hours to wake Carter for a feeding. "We did not need the alarm!" she says. "We love to laugh at that one now."
9. Newborn babies also sleep a lot - but not for long stretches
Those first three months are a free-for-all. Baby needs to eat every
two to three hours, so you're not getting much sleep either. "It does
get better," assures Dr. Altmann. "Most infants
can sleep for six to eight hours by 3 months of age." In the meantime,
try to get baby on a day and night schedule: during the day, don't let
him snooze more than three hours without waking him to feed; at night
let him sleep as long as he wants once he's regained the weight he lost
at birth.
10. The newborn stage is fleeting
Stressed, tired, and lonely? Yes, those early days are hard. But
they'll soon be behind you. Barbara Evans, of New York City, says, "I
wish I'd known how quickly the time goes." The mom to Luella, 8 months,
says, "I didn't take enough pictures or keep notes!" Rabeea Baloch, of
Sugarland, Texas, shares some veteran-mom experience: "With my first, I
stressed over every single thing, from changing diapers
to whether baby was crying more than usual. With my second, I just
enjoyed holding her, smelling her, kissing her, and loving the time
together."
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