What you need to know about the first days of a newborn baby's life? The first days after the hospital: everything a new mother needs to know

Pregnant women are not only in a special physical condition, but also experience completely unusual emotions. It's not just about hormones. The expectant mother worries about the health of the baby and its development, is nervous before childbirth and often experiences psychological discomfort. But for those who are going to give birth to their first child, the problems are exacerbated by the fact that they will have to master a completely new activity. You can find out all the details of how to care for a child only after you have done it yourself. Even caring for a little brother or sister in childhood is not considered, since the mother is still the main caregiver.

A young mother should know that the room in which her baby will live needs to be taken care of in advance. Then you will know for sure that after being discharged from the hospital, you will immediately return to a cozy nest.

The nursery should be not only bright and interesting for the baby, but also comfortable for the mother. After all, the first year the baby will actually not care where the wardrobe and chest of drawers are and under which wall the toys are laid out. But the mother needs everything necessary to always be at hand and could not accidentally injure the baby.

Prepare the baby's room with his father. The choice of wallpaper and furniture color is only a small part of the preparation. The expectant mother should know that there is no need to put a lot of furniture in the room or hang heavy curtains. Everything needs to be arranged so that it is possible to quickly clean up and not collect excess dust. Therefore, avoid carpets with long pile and flowering plants.

Umbilical wound. While mother and baby are in the hospital, a nurse takes care of the navel. Be sure to watch what and how she does, because at home you will have to carry out all the procedures yourself.
Traditionally, the navel is treated with peroxide and brilliant green twice a day. In the meantime, the wound has not healed, use special diapers. But if the navel does not heal for a long time, has changed color or has discharge from it, be sure to consult a doctor.
Diaper change. The process itself is not difficult. But the expectant mother needs to know that after each diaper change, the baby needs to be washed and wiped with a soft towel.
We wash the baby boiled water room temperature. To do this, take cotton pads and wipe the face. Wash your eyes especially carefully, and use a new cotton pad for each.
Cleaning a newborn's nose need to be very careful. It is better to twist a piece of cotton wool into a tourniquet or use special cotton buds but by no means ordinary. If the crusts in the nose are dry, drip 1 drop of saline or saline into each nostril.
baby ears you need to clean not only inside, but also outside. Be especially careful to treat behind the ears, as irritation often begins there. Never push the cotton too far into the ear. Firstly, you can damage the ear canal or push the wax only deeper. It is better to rinse the ears with a cotton pad, but be careful not to get water into the ear canal.
bathe the baby you need in a warm room (about 25 degrees) without drafts. The average water temperature is 37 degrees. While bathing, place the back of your baby's head in your palm and lightly wash it from top to bottom. After bathing, you can not intensively wipe the baby, it is better to slightly blot it with a soft towel.
Children can trim their nails as early as three weeks. On the hands they are cut in a semicircle, and on the legs - in a straight line with special scissors.

In addition to hygiene, buying soft baby clothes and carefully planned meals, mom should not forget about herself. The general rules for caring for and feeding a baby will definitely tell you in maternity hospital. But there no one will warn you what you personally will feel.

Constant fatigue. The most important thing was added to the usual household chores - caring for the baby. Do not try to do everything and become an ideal. It will be much more pleasant for the baby to see a cheerful mother, and not a shaggy, evil aunt with bruises under her eyes. Do not neglect the achievements of civilization (napkins, diapers, ready-made baby food) and make work in the kitchen easier with small household appliances.
postpartum depression. The constant cycle of worries and their monotony lead to emotional breakdowns. Talk heart to heart with your husband and ask him to help you more, or consult a specialist.
Relations with her husband begin to deteriorate. All your attention will be given to the baby. But do not forget that even though you became parents, you did not cease to be husband and wife. In this case, the husband should help you at the first opportunity and make life easier.

The minds of young children are in one of six states: silent sleep, active sleep, drowsiness, quiet wakefulness, active wakefulness, and crying.

Silent wakefulness initially accounts for about 10% of a child's day, but you will look forward to those moments of quiet attention during which you begin to really connect with him. Enjoy them, keep them in your memory, and if you have time, write down your impressions in a diary. Week after week, you will notice that the child is more awake and that he has amazing achievements in many different areas.

Vision

During the first few weeks, the child focuses better on objects that are 20-40 centimeters from his face. You may find that he is holding out his hand, carefully examining his fist. He will give preference to studying simple, contrasting, black-and-white) objects, such as stripes, checks or spirals, or a face bent over him. He can stare intently at the small unbreakable mirror attached to his crib. But his favorite subjects for detailed study will be faces that are thirty centimeters from his eyes. For several weeks he will not return smiles, but he simply needs to see them, and the more the better.

At first, the baby will be able to follow an object with his eyes for a very short time. Practice it by bringing your face or some bright object close to it and slowly moving it from side to side. In about two months, he will already be able to stop looking at objects that are attractive to him. He will be interested in more complex shapes, and he will be able to hold his head well enough to focus on simple, contrasting objects hung in front of him in the crib. By three months, he will begin to distinguish objects that are further away, and recognize you from a distance of several meters.

When the first weeks pass, the baby will begin to distinguish colors. At first, he will prefer bright, very contrasting colors. Ironically, but the soft colors that are usually used in the design of children's rooms, at first, the baby is completely uninteresting. Several months must pass before his color vision is so developed that he begins to distinguish the whole palette of colors and all the variety of shades.

From time to time, all children, learning to follow moving objects with their eyes, mow slightly. But if it turns out that the child often mows when he reaches six months, you need to show him to the pediatrician and ophthalmologist. If a baby's eyes are constantly sending two images to the brain instead of one, and the brain doesn't match them, the result is amblyopia, or "lazy eye" (lack of binocular vision).

Hearing

Different newborns are sensitive to sounds to varying degrees. Some are able to sleep peacefully through a heavy thunderstorm, while others are frightened when a cat crosses the road a block from your house. If the environment is very noisy, the child can noticeably reduce activity: it works defense mechanism that protects the baby's brain from overload. And although there is no need to maintain complete silence in the house, you still need to monitor the noise level: it should not, for example, exceed the volume level of a calm conversation of two or three people. If you want to go to a stadium or a concert that is full of people and very noisy, leave your child at home.

After a few weeks, the baby will begin to show attention to certain sounds, especially the voices of people who constantly surround him.

By two months, he may, having heard your voice, begin to look for you with his eyes. He can also make it clear - with the help of some movements and facial expressions - that he recognizes sounds that are familiar and pleasant to him. When your baby hits three months, you will notice that he turns his head to new interesting sounds, say, to the jingle of a bell. However, if the sounds are repeated all the time, he will get used to them and stop paying attention to them.

Smell

A very young child reacts to many odors and by the end of the first week of life distinguishes the smell of the mother's breast from the smell of the breast of another woman.

Touch

We all react strongly to all kinds of touches, but young children are especially sensitive to them. They are frightened by bumping into rough, rough surfaces, they react sharply to changes in temperature - especially if their skin comes into contact with something cold. Carrying, stroking, light slapping can calm crying, but do not resort to them just to calm tears. Touch is an important evidence of love, it will nourish the feelings of the child until he learns to understand words. They should become for him the same integral part of the day as feeding.

The early achievements of the child precede his true socialization. And it will most likely begin precisely when you begin to wonder if all this breastfeeding, endless changing of diapers and constant care have any meaning for the baby. One day, just after feeding, you suddenly notice a faint resemblance to a smile on a small face. Did the baby really smile or was he just tormented by gases? Maybe both, or maybe neither, but you still get the feeling that on a hot day you breathed in a breath of cool air. Suddenly, at the age of four to six weeks, all doubts will disappear: you will bend over the baby, and his face will light up with a big smile. "And when the baby smiles a second time, you will be equally delighted, because now you will know for sure that he has reached an important developmental milestone. .

IN next month you will begin to catch the baby's smiles in response to your own, to the cooing, to the words addressed to him. You will notice his special, joyful movements with which he will respond to the sound of familiar voices: he will turn his head and begin to look for loved ones with his eyes. Your first "conversations" will be even more enjoyable. In about two months, hearing your quiet, soothing words, the baby will begin to coo. At this age, he cannot understand the content of your speeches, but the very sound of your voice will tell him a lot.

Even in such young age the child may show some selectivity. He will not honor everyone with a wide smile and joy in his voice. Most likely, this is how he will react to the most familiar faces and voices. The child is already beginning to distinguish people who play important role in his life, and if someone wants to fall into this category, then he will have to tinker with the crumbs for a while. This is especially important for dads, who usually find it much more difficult to communicate with a writhing two-month-old creature than with an older baby who loves to “wrestle” on the carpet, throw a ball or play tag. Mothers weighing the pros and cons of returning to work must consider how much time the child will have to spend with other people in her absence.

Height, weight and movement

Children in the first ten days of their lives lose (and then gain) several tens of grams - about one-tenth of their birth weight. Further, you can expect that the child will add 20-30 grams daily, or 0.5-1 kilogram per month. In a month, it will grow a little less than one and a half centimeters. Here, of course, options are possible - it all depends on how he eats, and on heredity, which will ultimately determine who your offspring will look like - a ballerina or a football defender. During each medical examination, the baby will be weighed, his height and head circumference will be measured, and all these data will be entered into medical card- they are very important in order to draw conclusions whether the baby is developing correctly.

In the first three months, you will notice how much the baby's movements have changed. Immediately after birth, he thrashed and flailed his arms and legs, his chin could twitch and his hands tremble. Many of his movements are still reflexive - for example, sucking and grabbing. In addition, you can observe a tonic neck reflex: if the child’s head is turned to one side, then the arm on this side will become tense, and the other, on the contrary, will relax, as if the baby is going to fencing. If you carefully hold the child in vertical position, supporting the head, and then lower it down so that his feet touch a hard surface, he will make several stepping movements. This "walking" has nothing to do with how soon the baby actually walks, and the so-called walking reflex disappears by two months. But still, when he is awake and active, he will work his legs quite vigorously, lying on his back or on his stomach.

The movements of the arms and legs will gradually become less jerky and seem almost conscious to you. Between two and three months, most of the time, the baby's fists will already be open, and he will begin to bring his hands to the court or to his face, so that it looks like he is carefully studying them. He will not yet have good enough coordination to accurately reach the object of interest to him, although he will not fail to firmly hold in his fist the thing that can fit there. And you have to help the baby to let her go.

At two months, he will learn to control his neck muscles so well that, lying on his back, he will keep his head in one position. He will be able to briefly lift it and turn it from side to side. But he will learn to hold his head correctly only by three to four months, so you must definitely hold it when you pick him up and wear him.

Other people in a child's life

Since it is very important that you handle the newborn carefully and correctly, it is necessary to supervise older children when they interact with him. They need to be warned in advance - in the language they understand - that they will soon have a new brother or sister. It probably makes sense to give them the opportunity to greet the newborn when the mother is still in the maternity hospital. In very young children, amazement at the new tiny swarming little man is mixed with fear - will there be enough love in the house for everyone.

Looking at how everyone oohs and aahs at the baby, a preschool child may decide that The best way to attract attention is to act like a baby. You may find him climbing into a crib, or he may suddenly forget how to use the potty. Instead of wasting energy on correcting an older child's behavior, take the time to focus on his abilities and point out some of the advantages of his age. (“You are such a big boy now - you can go to the park and swing on a swing! And your sister is too small for that.”) He needs confirmation that he is special and unique, and he definitely needs to be alone with mom and dad. If mom is very tired or recovering from a difficult birth, then dad and grandparents should be ready to take on this task.

In the same way (if not more) it is important to protect the baby from children who are not very experienced in the art of caring for newborns. Preschoolers who really want to touch and stroke their little brother or sister should be shown how to do this without touching his eyes, nose and mouth. It is necessary to make them firmly understand that they can touch the baby only in the presence of the parents. They should not be allowed to take the child in their arms, play their "adult" games with him or touch him with unwashed hands. If children have a runny nose or cough, then in no case should they approach the newborn - for this, you first need to recover.

If you notice an older sibling's behavior toward a new baby, call them in immediately, find out what's wrong, and make sure the problem (usually jealousy) has been resolved before you allow further communication. Small children, especially if they are upset about something (no matter for what reason), are quite capable of harming the baby, both understanding what they are doing and not having the slightest idea about it. Children who have already begun to walk, especially two-year-olds, are not able to understand the moral and physical causes why they should not behave aggressively towards the newborn, although certain prohibitions need to be established for them unequally. Parents and other caregivers must be constantly on the lookout to protect the baby from older siblings who were themselves newborns not too long ago.

The same rules about colds and other acute diseases apply to relatives and friends who may want to babysit the baby. Because it the immune system is not yet as strong as it will be in a few months, it is necessary to protect it as carefully as possible from infections. This means that, at the risk of upsetting a well-intentioned relative or friend, one must firmly insist that since they are sick, sneezing and coughing, they need to stay as far away from the newborn as possible (because they spread the infection around them). Let it be better for adults and older children to experience temporary disappointment than for your child to catch an infection - in this case, he will have much worse. In the first two or three months of a newborn's life, you must constantly remember to avoid crowded places in general and nurseries or any infant care groups in particular, unless absolutely necessary.

If you are completely absorbed in your new duties, do not hesitate to ask well-wishers to drop by sometime later. Especially if the child is restless, you sleep little and are exhausted, keep all visits to a minimum. Hang a courteous do not disturb sign on your door and let the answering machine do the talking for you while you get some rest.

You will still have plenty of time and opportunity to show the world your overflowing joy.

With the advent of a new family member, the life of all household members changes dramatically. The house is filled with new sounds and smells, and the daily routine of adults adjusts to the needs of the baby. Now you can’t turn on loud music and talk loudly in the evening, you must keep absolute cleanliness and buy a bunch of diapers. So, the first month of a baby's life: what does a mother need to know, how to deal with a baby?

A young mother came home with a baby. How much does a baby need! He was not even a month old, but he is so smart and the most beautiful. To ensure the comfort of the child, everything should be prepared in the house in advance, and things should also be bought in advance.

List of necessary little things for the crumbs:

furniture for sleeping and swaddling;
bed sheets for the crib;
blanket warm/summer;
oilcloths different sizes;
items for bath procedures;
items of children's hygiene;
washing accessories for children's things;
stroller and items for walking;
utensils for eating and warming up food;
sterilizer for children's dishes;
various toys.

All these items must be bought in advance so as not to waste precious time, but to devote it to communicating with the baby. A stroller and a crib are bought in advance (it is possible immediately after the birth of the baby) and the baby’s wardrobe is formed, you can buy hygiene items in advance. This can be done to the mother herself in the last months of pregnancy, or you can instruct your grandmother to buy little things.

Development in the first week

This is the most difficult and responsible time in the life of the crumbs. All vital systems undergo active restructuring, adapting to new conditions.

Baby learns:

autonomous breathing;
autonomous power supply;
autonomous thermoregulation;
exist in daylight;
be aware of the sounds of the new world.

Baby's skin, devoid of original lubrication, adapts to air and moisture. The baby loses a lot of fluid in the first days, which must be replenished by feeding. Feed the baby should be "on request", that is, on demand.

The first days of life are filled with almost uninterrupted sleep: the baby wakes up only to receive a portion of milk. Mom needs to check the presence of important reflexes of the newborn:

back deflection;
spreading arms / legs to the sides;
the ability to scream loudly;
step reflex;
protrusion of the toes on the legs when touching (pressing) the feet.

In the first week of life, the condition and tone should be observed. skin, primordial jaundice. Jaundice, normally, disappears after 14-15 days, but in some cases it disappears only after a month.

If the jaundice of the newborn has not passed after a month, and yellow the skin has changed to a darker or greenish, urgently take the baby to the pediatrician.

Development in the second week

In the second week of life, adaptation to the new world continues. The baby is still poorly developed thermoregulation, and he is prone to instant overheating / hypothermia. Therefore, you need to carefully consider the regulation of temperature / humidity in the baby's room.

At this time, the umbilical wound is already healing and the jaundice stops. There are changes in the daily routine: the child already needs time to walk, he begins to respond to the world. Also, this time is marked by the first troubles with the gastrointestinal tract - colic appears.

The look of the crumbs is already confidently focused on the mother's face, and a semblance of a smile begins to appear on the lips. The baby takes the first steps of socialization. The baby begins to distinguish sounds, at this time you can sing songs to him.

Development in the third and fourth weeks

The baby can hold the head for 20 seconds while on the tummy, and even turn it in the direction of the sound source. If you give a child a finger, and he will grab it with his little hand. The baby shows a reaction to visual and sound images.

The fourth week of life marks an important stage of adaptation in the new world: the child can be proudly called a newborn. During this period, psycho-emotional contact with the mother is very important, which is established during breastfeeding. Mommy should know that caring for a baby is not just about changing diapers, but also about shaping trusting relationship with a little one.

Monthly baby development indicators

What skills should a baby have in his first month of life? good performance proper development are:

the ability to respond to the mother and recognize her;
the ability to smile openly when addressing him;
the ability to fix the gaze on an object at a distance of half a meter;
the ability to distinguish color and focus on objects of a contrasting tone;
the ability to hold and turn the head while on the tummy;
reproduction of the sound of "hum";
an attempt to play sounds in response to a dialogue with him;
reaction to sounds and light;
the ability to arch the back;
reproduction of chaotic movements.

During the first month, the baby actively gains weight, the body weight increases by 500-600 grams. In growth, too, an increase of 3 cm. Night sleep the baby lasts approximately 9 hours, and daytime sleep divided into 3-4 stages of two hours.

Approximate daily routine of a monthly baby:

6:00 a.m.: first feeding;
7 - 9-30: first daytime sleep;
9-30: second feeding;
11 - 13-30: second daytime sleep;
13-30: third feeding;
14 - 16-30: third daytime sleep;
16-30: fourth feeding;
17-30 - 19-30: fourth afternoon nap;
20-00: fifth feeding;
21 - 23-30: evening sleep;
23-30: last feeding;
23-30 - 6-00: night sleep.

How to take care of boys?

How to care for a newborn boy, and what does mommy need to know? When the baby is only a month old, it is emptied after each intake of milk. That is, you need to wash the baby often, and do it right. Care consists in washing not only the buttocks, but also the child's genitals. Wash the boy under the running water warm water, carefully holding under the tap.

Is it permissible to wash the baby in a basin of warm water? No, such care can lead to skin irritation from the remnants of defecation.

After washing, it is necessary to dry the skin with a clean diaper and lubricate the folds with a special oil.

Important! You can't oil a boy's scrotum.

Is it possible to open the foreskin of a boy for hygiene procedures per month? Doctors do not recommend caring for the foreskin before the age of six: there is no need to forcibly open the head of the penis. Such care will only lead to the formation of microcracks, which, when healed, form an inelastic connective tissue.

What should alert mom? Sometimes a discharge appears from the boy's foreskin, and the penis turns red and swells. This is an alarm signal: the baby needs to be examined. This is how it manifests inflammatory process the penis of the baby.

How to bathe a boy in a month? Babies in a month of life are recommended to bathe daily. First, the baby's face and head are washed, and at the end, the genitals are washed. Boiled water is prepared in advance. Herbal preparations are not recommended: potassium permanganate is taken instead.

How to wash a boy if there is no access to running water? In such a situation, care consists in wiping the body with wet baby wipes. Baby wipes are impregnated with a special composition for the skin of babies, so care with their help is completely safe.

How to take care of girls

Caring for a girl is distinguished by the treatment of the genitals when bathing / washing. It is necessary to wash the organs towards the ass so that the infection does not get into the vagina. Otherwise, caring for a girl is no different from the hygiene of a newborn boy.

The first week or two after birth are marked by some changes in the external genital organs: swelling mammary glands and genitals. Sometimes girls may also have bloody discharge from the vagina. There is nothing terrible, everything will pass by itself.

At this time, it is recommended to observe the girl: wash and change diapers in time, without waiting for emptying. When caring for a girl, it is not recommended to use baby soap: it dries delicate skin crumbs. How then to wash the baby? Do this with plain tap water, following the rules for caring for a girl.

Bath water should be prepared in advance: boil and cool.

Herbal preparations should not be bought: they dry out the skin. To disinfect water, a manganese solution prepared in advance is used.

Manganese must be bought at the pharmacy. If your skin becomes dry due to bathing procedures, lubricate the folds with baby oil, and pass the bathing water through a cleansing filter.

The first days of a newborn's life are an important and crucial stage in the development of an infant. The little man learns the world around him and learns to contact his mother in unusual conditions. What do new parents need to know about the first days of a baby's life? How does a child develop during the neonatal period?

Neonatal period

A newborn is a child from birth to the age of 28 days. During this special period, the baby is actively growing, and everything that happens in the first month of life affects the development of the baby. It largely depends on young parents how well the neonatal period will pass and how it adapts. little man to new conditions of existence.

A full-term newborn weighs 2500-4500 g. Its body length is 47-55 cm. Heredity, as well as its conditions, affect the growth and body weight of the baby. prenatal development. Most children are born with a weight of 3-3.5 kg and a height of about 50 cm.

In the first 3-4 days of life, the baby noticeably loses weight. Normally, weight loss can be up to 5-8%. On the 7th day, the weight begins to recover. On average, in the first month of life, a child gains about 600 g in weight.

During the neonatal period, the body temperature of the baby remains unstable and depends on the ambient temperature. The baby quickly cools and overheats, so it requires special attention and care. In the future, the baby will learn to control his body temperature and it will be much easier to endure any changes.

The first 2-3 days of life, the baby is usually in the hospital with his mother. In the absence of complications, the child is discharged home at the end of 3 days. From that moment on, the entire responsibility for the baby lies with his parents. What should moms and dads know about caring for a baby at home?

Nutrition

The best food for a newborn breast milk. Theoretically, every woman, with a properly organized breastfeeding able to feed her baby. According to statistics, only 3% of all new mothers have serious problems with health, affecting the production of breast milk. It is mainly about endocrine disorders, in which true hypogalactia develops (insufficient production of milk in the mammary glands). In the absence of such problems, breast milk is produced on demand and exactly as much as is needed for specific child under the specific conditions of its existence.

If there is not enough milk, contact your pediatrician or lactation consultant.

Healthy newborn should eat as often as he needs. The child can take a breast every hour and even more often, interrupted only by sleep. This condition is completely normal and is not considered a cause for concern. Just offer your baby a breast every time you feel his anxiety. Over time, the baby will develop its own rhythm for itself, and the woman's body will adapt to this regime by the timely production of breast milk.

The following tips will help make breastfeeding comfortable for mom and baby.

Feed your newborn on demand.
Let your baby breastfeed for as long as he needs to.
Make sure the baby is properly attached to the breast.
Don't express unnecessarily. Express milk only if you need to stockpile it.
Monitor your chest. If cracked nipples appear, use a healing ointment.
wear comfortable clothes, which allows you to feed your baby in any environment (at home, on a walk, in a clinic or at a party).
In the first 3-4 days at home, try to isolate the baby from contact with strangers.

Unfortunately, parents are not always able to establish good nutrition your child. It happens that for some reason the newborn does not take the breast. This is possible in the presence of various congenital diseases, including pathologies of the central nervous system. When transferring a baby to artificial or mixed feeding you should consult with a pediatrician and choose the optimal baby food that is suitable for age and other parameters.

Newborn care

Baby care in the first days of life includes several important aspects.

Organization of a children's room

You need to take care of the room for the child in advance. At the moment when the baby is at home, a crib, a changing table, a chest of drawers for things and other necessary things should be prepared for him. Some parents do without a special bed, preferring co-sleeping from birth. In any case, it is necessary to provide comfortable conditions for the joint stay of a young mother and baby in the first days at home.

The room where the child will live must meet the following requirements:

bright, clean, warm room;
decoration of walls and furniture in soothing colors;
the possibility of daily ventilation and quick cleaning;
room temperature - 20-22 ºC;
air humidity - 60-70%.

Hygiene

Pediatricians recommend starting every morning at home with hygiene procedures. You can wash your baby on a changing table or on any hard surface, placing an oilcloth and a soft diaper. The entire body of the baby is gently wiped with cotton pads dipped in plain water. Boiled water should be used to wash the eyes. You should also wash your child after each bowel movement.

The baby's nose also requires special attention. The child still does not know how to get rid of accumulated mucus on his own, so parents will have to help the baby. To clean the nasal passages, you can use children's cotton swabs with limiters. Before the procedure, it is necessary to irrigate the nose saline solution. The baby's ears are also gently cleaned with soft cotton swabs.

Special care is required for the umbilical wound. Processing of the umbilical cord is carried out daily. It is best to use hydrogen peroxide for this purpose. On average, the umbilical wound heals 10-14 days after the birth of the child.

With the development of inflammation in the umbilical ring, consult a doctor.

Bathing

When bathing a baby, you should follow simple rules.

It is best to bathe a baby in a special bath.
You can boil water for bathing, but it is not necessary.
The optimum water temperature is 37 °C.
The time of the first bath is 5-10 minutes. Every 3-4 days you can gradually increase the duration water procedures up to 30 minutes.
Chamomile, calendula or other herbs can be added to the water (if the child is not allergic).

walks

At positive temperatures and good health the baby can be walked already on the second or third day after discharge. In summer, it is better not to leave the house during the peak of solar activity (from 12 to 16 hours). In winter, it is allowed to walk with a baby at a temperature not lower than 15 ° below zero.

How to dress your baby for going out? For all children of the first year of life, one simple rule works. Dress your baby in the same way as yourself, plus one layer of clothing. For newborns, it is better to use a special envelope that protects the baby from all adverse weather conditions.

Development of the newborn

Development newborn is coming full swing. Healthy child reacts to bright light and loud sound, declares his desires by crying and knows how to find the mother's breast by the smell of milk. A full-term newborn demonstrates about 75 reflexes. The control of reflex activity has great importance, because it is this parameter that allows us to fully evaluate physical development child during this period.

In 28 days, a newborn learns many useful skills:

fixes the gaze on the face of the mother or another adult;
tries to raise and hold his head;
distinguishes mother's voice;
recognizes the smell of the mother and her touch;
actively moving.

The development of the baby does not stop even for a minute. If in the first days of life the child almost does not react to what is happening around, then by the end of the first month of life he wakes up from loud sounds and distinguishes the voices of his parents. The development of hearing goes hand in hand with the development of vision in the newborn. 2-3 weeks after birth, the baby clearly distinguishes people's faces and large objects at a distance of 20-30 cm.

The development of the newborn is assessed by the pediatrician during a home visit. In the first month, the doctor should see the baby 4 times. 28 days after the birth of the child, together with the mother, they will be waiting at the children's clinic for a scheduled examination. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will give his recommendations for caring for the baby in the first months of life.

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What expectant mothers need to know about a newborn

Expectant mothers have a lot to learn, and of course, a lot to know about their unborn child.

For example, when a newborn begins to see. The baby sees from the first day, but he is not able to fix his gaze on any particular object or person. Usually the ability to focus the gaze appears at the end of the first, at the beginning of the second month. The child can stop his gaze on the mother's face, a bright toy, and follow a moving object for a short time with his eyes. If the mother observes the child, she will soon notice that he is looking at her face with interest.

There is a lot of water in the body of a newborn, which makes up to 35% of its weight. During the first 3 days of his life, the child loses an average of 100-200g of excess fluid.

All newborns have blue eyes, although sometimes babies are born with dark eyes. Children born with dark eyes will not change eye color, while children with blue eyes may change eye color during the first six months of life as pigment builds up in the iris. Parents can tell if their child's eye color will change by the presence of dark spots in the iris. Color is determined by two genes, one from each parent. The gene that determines dark color the eye is dominant, and the gene that determines the light color is recessive. If a child inherits the genes for blue eyes from both parents, he will have Blue eyes. If, however, the gene for dark eyes is inherited, the child will have dark eyes. Therefore, blue-eyed parents will only have blue-eyed children. If one or both parents have dark eyes, they can have a blue-eyed child, provided they carry the recessive gene for blue eyes.

In newborns born at term (40 weeks of pregnancy), body weight can range from 3.2 to 3.8 kg, and body length from 50 to 53 cm. The weight and length of the baby at birth is less if he was born prematurely or if the mother smokes and abuses alcohol. After birth, the baby loses some of its weight. This is quite normal. There is a lot of water in the body of a newborn, which makes up to 35% of its weight. During the first 3 days of his life, the child loses an average of 100-200g of excess fluid. To check whether the child is growing well and gaining weight, you can focus on the following data: a) for the first month, a full-term baby adds an average of 600 g, b) for the second and third months - 800 g each, c) and during each subsequent month is 50 g less compared to the previous one. As for the increase in body length, for the first 3 months the monthly increase is on average 3 cm, at the age of 3 to 6 months - 2.5 cm, from 6 to 9 months - 1.5-2 cm.

Very often in newborns, the skin flakes off on the 3rd-7th day of life. This is a normal physiological process. Especially severe peeling seen in preterm infants.

Mom needs to know what are the soft spots on the baby's head, and how carefully they need to be handled. Soft places are the so-called fontanelles, the remnants of the membranous skeleton that connect the bones of the skull, due to which the fetal head contracts when passing through the birth canal. The anterior, or large, fontanel is located at the junction of the frontal and parietal bones; the posterior, or small, fontanel is located at the junction of the occipital bone with the parietal bones. Of these two fontanelles, the most important is the large diamond-shaped fontanel. The normal fontanel is elastic. When a child cries, he swells slightly. There is no need to be afraid of damaging the fontanelle, and when caring for the child's head, only the usual precautions should be observed. In a normally developing child, a large fontanel overgrows, as a rule, by 12-18 months, and a small fontanel, usually between the 2nd and 4th month, although in 80% of full-term children it is already closed by the time of birth. Untimely overgrowth of fontanels requires consultation of a pediatrician.

It is desirable for expectant mothers to know that children have jaundice. It is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the tissues and blood of the child.

Very often in newborns, the skin flakes off on the 3rd-7th day of life. This is a normal physiological process. Particularly strong peeling is observed in post-term children. Peeling goes away on its own. In some cases, you can use baby cream to soften it.

It is desirable for expectant mothers to know that children have jaundice. It is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the tissues and blood of the child. Bilirubin is a reddish-yellow pigment that is formed when hemoglobin is broken down. As it is deposited in the skin in increasing quantities, the skin becomes yellow. This condition is called jaundice. At the same time, the amount of bilirubin in the blood increases. When its level is normal, it does not pose any health hazard. However, when the level of bilirubin in the blood rises above the permissible level, there is a danger of it getting into the brain and, as a result, damage to the cells of the central nervous system. A mother with a newborn child remains for treatment in a maternity hospital or is transferred to a children's hospital if the level of bilirubin in the blood is above the permissible level. To treat some forms of jaundice, the baby is kept certain time under a fluorescent lamp. Under the influence of the rays of the blue part of the spectrum, bilirubin passes into a form that is not dangerous for the child's brain.

Many newborn babies have soft, fine hair on their bodies. This is quite normal and the hair disappears, usually after a few weeks.

New mothers with the birth of a child will have many other questions. For advice, you should contact your local pediatrician.

livemother.com

What should a mother know about her newborn baby?

I was asked to write about newborns, and I realized that yes, this is the most difficult time, and I just have the fewest posts on this topic.

IN Maternity Hospital

In the delivery room, do not forget to ask the child to lay it on your tummy, do not cut the umbilical cord until the end of its pulsation, attach the child to the chest and do not wash off the original lubricant
In the delivery room, the neonatologist assesses the child’s condition at 1 and 5 minutes and gives him, respectively, two Apgar scores, do not forget to ask in the delivery room how many Apgar scores the child received (more about Agar HERE).
Right in the delivery room, the child's blood type is determined - do not forget to find out
In the maternity hospital, a blood test is taken for the baby, and if everything is fine, then they offer to be vaccinated against hepatitis and tuberculosis (BCG); if you have had these vaccinations, then do not forget that in 1 month, the second (out of three) vaccinations against hepatitis; it can also be done at 5 months; I do NOT recommend giving up vaccinations (you can read more about BCG HERE and HERE, about hepatitis HERE).
In the maternity hospital, heel screening is carried out for very important diseases (which are deadly if diagnosed late, so do not refuse screening in any case) and check hearing (UAE otoacoustic emission); if this was not done in the maternity hospital, then the screening should be taken at home by a nurse from the clinic, and the hearing should be checked at the clinic in the ENT doctor's office
The umbilical cord is now not cut off in most maternity hospitals, a staple is applied to it, it falls off by itself during the first week of life
Milk comes 2-3 days after childbirth, this may be accompanied by a feeling of engorgement of the mammary glands and even an increase in temperature (in this case, just let the baby suckle the breast and develop its own feeding rhythm); colostrum (first milk) - is a very important and nutritious food for the baby; desirable for lactation cohabitation with a baby, breastfeeding on demand and no supplementary feeding; you do not need to express milk, this will disrupt the natural rhythm of lactation.
At the beginning of feeding, the nipples are very sore and it hurts to feed; do not bring to cracks; do not treat the nipples with anything before feeding; use ointments with lanolin (for example, "Purilan") to protect the nipples; after about 2 weeks, feeding will be painless or even pleasant; if you have flat nipples, use breast pads;
If the chest is very sore or the temperature rises (which is possible in the first week of the baby's life, when milk comes), try to let the baby drain yourself to the maximum; do not hand over milk for sterility, it should not be sterile
After transfer to postpartum department in the first hours of a child's life, a neonatologist examines; according to the results of the examination, the neonatologist may consider necessary supervision for the child in the conditions of the children's department / incubator / put the child on a dropper / prescribe additional medications to the child or take tests from him
Additionally, in the maternity hospital, a child can be done: neurosonography (ultrasound of the brain through a large fontanelle), ECHO-KG (ultrasound of the heart), ultrasound of internal organs, ultrasound of the kidneys and a child can be examined by a narrow specialist (for example, pediatric neurologist).
It is normal for a full-term baby to lose 5-8% of birth weight in the hospital
In the first two days, the child should poop. At first, the child has thick and dark stools (meconium), on the 3rd-4th day there is a transitional stool, and by the end of the first week there is a stool characteristic of a newborn: yellow (any shades of yellow-orange), up to 5-10 times a day, not very thick (creamy or watery), lumpy or streaked
Neonatal jaundice is normal for most newborns; in most children it resolves within 3 weeks, however, it is necessary to consult a doctor in case of prolonged jaundice; “Breast milk jaundice” is not a contraindication to stop breastfeeding
A child in a car must always ride in a car seat, even from the hospital; usually discharge envelopes do not fit and are not fixed in the car seat, so I do NOT recommend purchasing or carrying a child in discharge envelopes, this is extremely dangerous: holding the child in her arms, even with slight braking, the mother can harm the child by crushing him with her weight (more about autocross HERE)
And the last thing I want to say is about the birth itself. Please don't read the forums, don't be stubborn, don't make the doctor's decision, don't prioritize natural childbirth, don't think that the way the baby was born is more important to the development of the baby than how healthy the baby was born. Please let the DOCTOR make the decision about the mode of delivery. Understand, obstetrics is a rather dangerous area, natural childbirth carries more risks than a caesarean section, and as a neonatologist, I have seen a lot of full-term babies who ended up in intensive care after natural childbirth, I urge you to reason and adequate perception of reality, to the fact that the doctor knows better what is happening with you and with the child. To the operation caesarean section there are certain indications, and the obstetrician-gynecologist makes this decision himself, without your pressure or desire. Again, don't ask for a C-section just because you feel like it: it's surgical intervention and he has evidence. During childbirth, do not rest and do not choose methods of treatment or examination, just relax and trust the doctor (sorry for the cry of the soul, inspired by anti-medical Internet hysteria).

postpartum period lasts 40 days after childbirth, during this period, discharge may persist (bloody for the first few days, then sanious, then serous (yellowish)).
Prior to the examination by a doctor in the first 40 days, doctors do not recommend having a sexual life, lying in a bath, going to the pool
At 1.5 months, a woman should come to a gynecologist, it is desirable to do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and pass general analysis blood
Breastfeeding does not protect against pregnancy, especially after the introduction of complementary foods, so if you do not want to get pregnant, you need to protect yourself, it is best to use a condom as the most reliable and safest method

During the start (first 2 weeks) of breastfeeding, a hypoallergenic diet is recommended (do not eat: cow's milk, red fruits and vegetables, honey, nuts, chocolate, citrus fruits, teas with additives, coffee, fish, aspic, etc.),
A woman who is breastfeeding should eat fully, so every day it is necessary to expand the diet (introduce New Product once every 3 days)
Any woman can breastfeed, regardless of breast size; if you have flat nipples, use nipple covers; with a correct grip on the breast, almost the entire areola should be in the baby's mouth - look at the pictures on how to properly attach the baby to the chest.
The best food for a baby is breast milk, however, the choice is always yours; if you don't want to breastfeed or breastfeeding is otherwise impossible, then I'm sure you'll find another way to show your love for your baby.

YOUR NEWBORN BABY IS AT HOME.

A newborn is considered a child up to 28 days of life.

What you need to buy and have at home:
- hydrogen peroxide and cotton swabs to treat the umbilical wound
- child or hypoallergenic washing powder
- baby shampoo
- diapers (any, the main thing is that the child does not have allergies to them)
- diaper cream with zinc (the cream should only be used for redness in the folds, if everything is in order, then the skin under the diaper does not need to be treated with anything)
- nipple cream with lanolin (for example, "purilan")
- cotton wool and any baby or apricot oil to remove goats from the nose with a flagellum of cotton dipped in oil (it is not necessary to do this prophylactically, but only if you see goats)
- By the month of life, you need to purchase vitamin D and a gas tube or enema to help the child if he develops colic
The temperature in the room is 18-22C, the room should be regularly ventilated, and it is normal if the child's hands are a little colder than the whole body. It is advisable that the child is not in the vicinity of air conditioners, open windows and fans (you can read more about air conditioners and house temperature HERE and HERE).
A full-term baby should be dressed in the way that the parents feel comfortable, and a premature baby, taking into account its imperfect thermoregulation, in the way that the parents feel comfortable, and add another layer. For children weighing more than 2 kg, a cap indoors with normal temperature need not.
The child does not need a pillow, the blanket should be light, the sheet is well stretched, the mattress is even and firm
After discharge from the maternity hospital, a doctor and a nurse should come to your home and answer all your questions.

SLEEP and MODE (about sleep, self-falling asleep and mode, you can read in detail HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE)

In the first month, the baby will sleep a lot, eat often and this is normal.
Track your awake time and avoid over-walking, maximum time wakefulness for a newborn, when he can calmly fall asleep later - 1-1.5, well, a maximum of 2 hours.
Try not to accustom the child to sleep while driving (in a stroller or in a car seat) and fall asleep while rocking or on the handles - it is very difficult to wean the child from this later
Tight swaddling is not allowed, it is possible to swaddle the child loosely in case the child wakes up, however, this is not desirable, because the child must move in order to develop even in sleep.
You can use the "cocoon", the child is pleased to be surrounded by something warm from all sides
I support co-sleeping, especially at first during the breastfeeding period, if it suits all family members
To reduce the risk of sudden infant death (SCD), it is recommended to put the baby to sleep on his back both at night and during the day.
At first, the child may not immediately establish a daily rhythm of sleep, so sometimes if the child wakes up at night and sleeps during the day, it can be recommended to wake the child during the day if he sleeps more than 3.5-4 hours

Feed your baby on demand, not by the hour, but try to establish some kind of routine, keep track of feeding time and wake time: this will help you better understand the child and his needs and identify possible cause crying (breastfeeding facts HERE);
Usually, the interval between feedings that a child can withstand with established lactation is 2-3.5 hours (if there is not enough milk, you can read HERE, what medicines you can watch with breastfeeding HERE, why you don’t need to express HERE)
The baby can suckle at the breast for 5 to 30 minutes; it is believed that he receives his main volume of milk during the first 10 minutes of sucking; for convenience, when remembering which breast you fed, you can wear breastfeeding bracelets or just a bracelet that changes with the “duty” breast
A breastfed child does not need to be supplemented with water (with rare exceptions, when it is very hot or the heating devices are very intensive: in this case, it is better to offer drinking from a spoon and between feedings)
After feeding the child, it should be worn vertically until the air escapes (until the “pop”)
Regurgitation in the amount of 1-2 tablespoons (and even through the nose) is the norm (about regurgitation HERE)
A child may cry not only from hunger
Do not donate milk for seeding - milk must not be sterile
The baby does not need to be woken up for feeding
If you are breastfeeding, it is convenient to wear baby carriers: at first, the child will just look at them, then grab, then suck, and then even put them on-)
Do not focus on weight gain, but look at the child's well-being, his sleep and the intervals between feedings; weigh the child no more than 1r / week, and even less often; it is believed that in 1 month a child should add about 600g of birth weight (about weight HERE and HERE and HERE)
During the formation of lactation, it is not recommended to use a pacifier or a bottle with water / mixture (about the pacifier HERE)

BATHING (read more HERE)

You can bathe your baby next day after discharge from the hospital, even if the umbilical residue has not yet fallen off;
It is not necessary to bathe the child every day, as this can lead to even more dry skin. It is enough to bathe the child once every 2-3 days.
Start at 37C
Use shampoo no more than 1-2r/week
There is no need to clean the nose or ears of the child every day (including cleaning the ears after bathing), the child does not need to clean the ears at all, and the nose only if you see boogers
It is better to wash the baby than to use wet wipes; girls are washed from front to back.

Disposable diapers not harmful to either boys or girls; the skin in them remains dry due to the strongest absorbent filler
It is not necessary to iron things from 2 sides; it is also not necessary to sterilize everything the child comes into contact with: follow the measure in everything, the child must be in contact with the outside world.
You can temper a child from birth: gradually lower the temperature of the water when bathing, observe the recommended room temperature, do not overheat the child, regularly ventilate the room
The use of baby powder is undesirable due to possible damaging effects on the lungs.
Do not put scratches on the child, the fingers should feel the world around
It is necessary to isolate family members with acute respiratory infections from the child, regularly ventilate the room and ask the sick person to wash their hands regularly and wear a mask
Avoid smoking in the presence of a child

HEALTH

Normal for a child can be a body temperature from 36.5 to 37.4 ° C when measured in a soaked cavity (more about temperature HERE).
If the child was sucked mucus from the nose in the delivery room, then in the first 2 weeks the child may have swelling of the nasal mucosa, which often worries parents and which will gradually subside.
Skin-to-skin contact between mother and child is very beneficial for all children; carry your baby more often
A trembling chin, convergent squint, startling with the spread of the arms to the sides with sharp sounds - all this is the norm for the neonatal period
Some children “grunt” when inhaling - this is most likely a congenital stridor, does not require treatment and will pass with time, however, tell your doctor about this
Do not take unnecessary tests, look first of all at the well-being of the child (do not take feces for scatology, feces for dysbacteriosis, culture of milk for sterility in the absence of indications)
Do not give medicines that have not been proven effective: antiviral drugs, bacteriophages, interferons, oxolinic ointment, topical antibiotics, etc.
After birth, on the skin, the child may have (you can still read / see about the skin HERE):
- cyanosis, or blueness around the mouth, feet, hands (increased by crying or feeding, gradually disappears as postpartum adaptation occurs);
- marbling of the skin (a sign of immaturity, will pass as the nervous system matures)
- red spots on the forehead, between the eyes and on the back of the head (normal, will pass by 2-3g),
- vellus hair (a sign of immaturity, will pass as the nervous system matures)
- white dots on the face and nose (pass up to 1-3 months),
- general redness of the skin (lasts for several weeks),
- crust on the hair and behind the ears (keep up to 1 year or more)
- peeling (passes up to 1 month of life)
- not normal and requiring a visit to a doctor are: bright red spots of a different localization than indicated above, large or prominent moles, "coffee" spots, any rash on the body, moles on the "leg" (papillomas), and other changes on the skin, o which I did not write above.
Do not treat the navel with brilliant green: this drug is not safe, but green color does not allow you to see the inflammation if it suddenly starts; do not cover the navel with a diaper; if redness or discharge from the navel occurs, consult a doctor; the umbilical wound can be treated with hydrogen peroxide or any other antiseptic
Do not add potassium permanganate in crystals to the bath - this can be dangerous, the crystals may not completely dissolve, get on the skin and cause a burn
The child may have watery or festering eyes, there may be a “tear” in one or two eyes - this is due to blockage or narrowing of the nasolacrimal canal; it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist, instillation of anti-inflammatory eye drops and massage of the nasolacrimal canal; if necessary - piercing of the nasolacrimal canal
The child may have: engorgement of the mammary glands (in children who are breastfed, they persist throughout the feeding period; in children receiving formula, up to 1 year of life), there may sometimes be discharge from the chest (not to be confused with reddening of the mammary glands - this is not normal and requires a visit to a doctor), in boys - swelling of the scrotum (passes after 2-4 weeks), whitish or even bloody issues from the vagina (pass after 2 weeks of life)
In the first 1.5 weeks, the baby's urine can stain the diaper in a pink-red color. This is fine.
Do not lick the nipple, you have a lot of germs in your mouth
Spread the baby on the tummy more often - this reduces the risk of colic in the child and promotes the development of the muscles of the neck and chest.
In the neonatal period, slings can be used:
you can use: a sling-scarf, a sling with rings or an ergo-backpack with an insert for a newborn; it is advisable to use not knitted slings, but from diagonal weaving fabrics;
- - can be used: sling scarf, sling with rings or ergo backpack with newborn insert
  - Preference is given to a sling scarf and a sling with rings, since even with inserts there are not so many possibilities for adjusting to the size of your child and the back is too wide, which can lead to excessive spreading of the legs in small children.
  - you can use slings, both knitted and made of diagonal weaving fabrics; jacquard and double diagonal weave fabrics are preferred as they have less stretch and provide tighter support for the spine
  - with proper tight winding, they evenly support the child's back like mother's hands and there is no excessive vertical load on the child's spine;
  - sling - a scarf creates a symmetrical load on the mother's shoulders, but it is more difficult and longer to wind it,
  - a sling with rings puts pressure on only one shoulder, which is less comfortable for mom, mom gets tired faster, but winding it up is easier and faster;
  - in the first months of life, do not use sling bags, cradles, boards, carrier slings (where the chin is pressed against chest- this makes it difficult for the child to breathe), and kangaroo backpacks (this creates an excessive load on the spine).
Trust your doctor and your heart

From 1 month to 2 years of age, all children living in Russia as in a zone of low insolation are recommended daily and year-round intake of vitamin D (which is given until 12 am)
By the age of 1 month, a child may develop acne - these are pimples surrounded by red spots on the face, scalp, neck and upper chest (up to the "shoulder level") - this is not an allergy, the child is not worried and does not need treatment, it passes independently by 2-2.5 months of life (more about acne HERE)
The stool becomes a little thinner and thicker (creamy) as you get older. The color of the stool should not bother the mother if it does not bother the child. Appearance foamy stool coming out under pressure and with a sound can be a sign of transistorized lactose deficiency and an indirect sign of infantile colic and requires consultation with a pediatrician.
From about 3-4 weeks, many children begin to have colic: the child begins to cry for no reason, knock his legs and nothing can distract him; during an attack of colic, you can pull the legs to the tummy, put the baby on the tummy, massage the tummy clockwise, apply heat to the abdomen, put a gas tube lubricated with oil, and in the near future this issue see a doctor (read more about colic HERE).
In 1 month it is recommended to go through all the main specialists: an orthopedist, an oculist, an ENT doctor, a surgeon and a neurologist.
If you were vaccinated against hepatitis B at the maternity hospital, then the second hepatitis B vaccination should be done at 1 month (or at 5 months), and the third at 6 months. You can also additionally get vaccinated against rotavirus, it is important to have time to get the first vaccine at the age of 6 to 12 weeks of life.
At 1 month, the first smile appears, the first “aha”, the child begins to hold his head (neurological development HERE and many other places)
From 1 month you can start doing massage, gymnastics, and visual gymnastics (about massage HERE)
You need to see a doctor urgently if:
- the umbilical wound reddened or the discharge increased from it,
- vomiting and regurgitation intensifies every day, and by 20 days vomiting occurs in a fountain in a large volume;
- respiratory rate increases (more than 60 per minute)
- blue nasolabial triangle at rest
- increase in body temperature
- there are signs of an infectious disease, that is:

Vomiting or spitting up
Appearance liquid stool, uncolored or black stools, or streaked with blood
Reducing the number of wet diapers to less than 6-8 times a day
Change in skin color
Respiratory failure
Decreased appetite
Hyperexcitability
Decreased activity
Drowsiness
Skin rashes

any other things that may alert you, and about which I did not write, which is the norm.

In the event of an increase in body temperature, parents should (detailed HERE):

Call a doctor
undress the child
Give the baby a breast and offer a drink
Give an antipyretic drug at a dose appropriate for the child's weight: preparations containing ibuprofen or paracetamol. Do not give your child aspirin

You will certainly have periods of increased anxiety, many questions, and even a period of despair. Trust your heart and your doctor. Do not compare your child with anyone, everyone has their own special way. Do not forget about yourself, take time for yourself and never refuse help. Be tolerant of other parents and don't criticize their choices.

Remember one thing: every day works for you. Every day it will be easier and easier :) Hold on and remember that you are the best best mom for your baby!

Pediatrician and neonatologist, candidate of medical sciences and mother, Levadnaya Anna.

annamama.ru

What you need to know mom in the first month of a baby's life

New life

List of necessary little things for the crumbs:

furniture for sleeping and swaddling;
bed linen for the crib;
blanket warm/summer;
oilcloths of different sizes;
items for bath procedures;
items of children's hygiene;
washing accessories for children's things;
stroller and items for walking;
utensils for eating and warming up food;
sterilizer for children's dishes;
various toys.

Development in the first week

This is the most difficult and responsible time in the life of the crumbs. All vital systems undergo active restructuring, adapting to new conditions.

Baby learns:

autonomous breathing;
autonomous power supply;
autonomous thermoregulation;
exist in daylight;
be aware of the sounds of the new world.

Baby's skin, devoid of original lubrication, adapts to air and moisture. The baby loses a lot of fluid in the first days, which must be replenished by feeding. Feed the baby should be "on request", that is, on demand.

The first days of life are filled with almost uninterrupted sleep: the baby wakes up only to receive a portion of milk. Mom needs to check the presence of important reflexes of the newborn:

back deflection;
spreading arms / legs to the sides;
the ability to scream loudly;
step reflex;
protrusion of the toes on the legs when touching (pressing) the feet.

In the first week of life, the condition and tone of the skin, primordial jaundice should be observed. Jaundice, normally, disappears after 14-15 days, but in some cases it disappears only after a month.

If the jaundice of the newborn has not passed after a month, and the yellow color of the skin has changed to a darker or greenish one, urgently take the baby to the pediatrician.

Development in the second week

At this time, the umbilical wound is already healing and the jaundice stops. Changes occur in the daily routine: the child already needs time to walk, he begins to react to the world around him. Also, this time is marked by the first troubles with the gastrointestinal tract - colic appears.

Development in the third and fourth weeks

Monthly baby development indicators

What skills should a baby have in his first month of life? Good indicators of proper development are:

the ability to respond to the mother and recognize her;
the ability to smile openly when addressing him;
the ability to fix the gaze on an object at a distance of half a meter;
the ability to distinguish color and focus on objects of a contrasting tone;
the ability to hold and turn the head while on the tummy;
reproduction of the sound of "hum";
an attempt to play sounds in response to a dialogue with him;
reaction to sounds and light;
the ability to arch the back;
reproduction of chaotic movements.

During the first month, the baby actively gains weight, the body weight increases by 500-600 grams. In growth, there is also an increase of 3 cm. The baby’s night sleep lasts about 9 hours, and daytime sleep is divided into 3-4 stages of two hours each.

Approximate daily routine of a monthly baby:

6:00 a.m.: first feeding;
7 - 9-30: first daytime sleep;
9-30: second feeding;
11 - 13-30: second daytime sleep;
13-30: third feeding;
14 - 16-30: third daytime sleep;
16-30: fourth feeding;
17-30 - 19-30: fourth afternoon nap;
20-00: fifth feeding;
21 - 23-30: evening sleep;
23-30: last feeding;
23-30 - 6-00: night sleep.

How to take care of boys?

How to care for a newborn boy, and what does mommy need to know? When the baby is only a month old, it is emptied after each intake of milk. That is, you need to wash the baby often, and do it right. Care consists in washing not only the buttocks, but also the child's genitals. They wash the boy under running warm water, carefully holding it under the tap.

Is it permissible to wash the baby in a basin of warm water? No, such care can lead to skin irritation from the remnants of defecation.

After washing, it is necessary to dry the skin with a clean diaper and lubricate the folds with a special oil.

Important! You can't oil a boy's scrotum.

What should alert mom? Sometimes a discharge appears from the boy's foreskin, and the penis turns red and swells. This is an alarm signal: the baby needs to be examined. This is how the inflammatory process of the penis crumbs manifests itself.

How to take care of girls

The first week or two after birth are marked by some changes in the external genital organs: swelling of the mammary glands and genitals. Sometimes girls may also have bloody discharge from the vagina. There is nothing terrible, everything will pass by itself.

At this time, it is recommended to observe the girl: wash and change diapers in time, without waiting for emptying. When caring for a girl, it is not recommended to use baby soap: it dries out the delicate skin of the crumbs. How then to wash the baby? Do this with plain tap water, following the rules for caring for a girl.

Bath water should be prepared in advance: boil and cool.

Herbal preparations should not be bought: they dry out the skin. To disinfect water, a manganese solution prepared in advance is used.

Manganese must be bought at the pharmacy. If your skin becomes dry due to bathing procedures, lubricate the folds with baby oil, and pass the bathing water through a cleansing filter.

How to swaddle a baby

Pediatricians do not recommend swaddling a baby in the form of a "soldier" with outstretched legs. It can cause dysplasia - abnormal development hip joints. If dysplasia takes a pathological form these days, a dislocation of the joint may form.

In order not to provoke dysplasia in a child, it is necessary to use wide swaddling. With such swaddling, the baby's hips are naturally moved apart: this position is the most physiological. To swaddle the baby correctly, you need to fold the diaper four times and place it between the legs.

Do I need to swaddle the baby's arms, or is it better to leave them free? In the first days of life, the baby may be frightened of his hands, so it is better to hold them with swaddling - but not tight. If you do not want to swaddle your hands, then put cotton mittens on the baby so that he does not scratch his face with nails. Instead of mittens, you can simply sew up the sleeves of the vest.

Reasons for excitement

If the baby is crying, it means that he needs something. Mom needs to be able to distinguish between the requests and complaints of the baby, learn to understand the meaning of crying. Reason for baby crying

wet diaper / diaper;
requires milk or water;
press the seams of clothing - discomfort.

All this can be easily eliminated. The following circumstances may be a cause for concern:

umbilical wound;
the formation of a pustular infection;
a sharp change in the behavior of the baby.

If the navel oozes after the crust falls off, you need to seek help from a pediatrician. The navel is considered the entrance gate of infection, and any pathology can be dangerous. What to do before the arrival of the doctor these days? It is necessary to drip the navel with 3% peroxide and blot with a sterile napkin when the peroxide foams.

What is a pustular infection? This is the appearance on the skin of the baby of a bubble with a yellowish liquid, around which there is a red inflamed rim. If the infection is not eliminated in time, the bubbles can spread over the surface of the skin.

The reason for a sharp change in the behavior of the baby may be initial stage diseases these days.

If the baby was actively eating all the time and suddenly stopped, then you need to inform the pediatrician about this. It happens that the baby suddenly starts crying all the time, and it is impossible to calm him down - this is also a reason for medical care.

What not to do:

Overfeed the child.
Pick up the little one by the arms.
Keep your head up.
Take the baby in your arms without need and pump it.
Panic at any cry of the baby.
Leave the baby in wet diapers for a long time.
Leave the baby in one position for a long time.

Baby's basic wardrobe

Newborn clothes should be seasonal, that is, not for growth. If the baby was born in the warm season, the list of necessary things for the newborn will differ in the presence light clothing. For warm days need to buy:

T-shirts;
slips;
booties;
bibs;
cotton socks;
thin calico vests;
chintz/knitwear sliders;
caps coarse calico / cotton thin;
bodysuit with short/long sleeves;
suits / overalls for walking are light.

On cold days, clothing should be chosen according to the climate.

A feature of the wardrobe of a newborn child is the presence a large number thin undershirts to create a layered effect.

This is especially important on cool days: an air gap is formed between the layers, which retains body heat.

Clothing for winter days consists of warm things: woolen, knitted, flannelette, velor and fleece. Shoes are also purchased according to the season if necessary. To dress the baby warmly on cold days, you need to buy a walking envelope for the winter. In the house of kids, dress in layered clothing from several vests (if it's cold).

Should you wear a cap in the house? It depends on the heat/cold in the room. IN initial days life should be protected from overheating / hypothermia. Caring for a girl / boy during this period is to ensure a comfortable microclimate in the room.

How to get rid of postpartum hemorrhoids?

According to statistics, every "pregnancy" from the second trimester increases the risk of developing unpleasant disease.
Half of pregnant women suffer from hemorrhoids, the disease develops quickly and most often women already treat the consequences, and do not do prevention.
According to statistics, half of the patients are people aged 21-30, in their prime. Another third (26-30%) are aged 31-40.
Doctors recommend timely treatment of hemorrhoids, as well as its prevention, not to start the disease and be attentive to your health.

But there is an effective remedy for hemorrhoids! Follow the link and find out how Anna got rid of the disease ...

Why do newborn twins dream of a boy and a girl

Even if during pregnancy you read all the books about children that you could reach, anyway, upon returning from the hospital, you will probably feel as if an alien has suddenly settled in the apartment. Today, few people have experience with babies before having their own children. The main thing is to remember that soon you will learn to understand the child a little better. Rest when you can, watch your diet and allow yourself to treat this strange creature like a normal, strong and healthy person with very little life experience. Do not be nervous over trifles!

Having thoroughly wrinkled in the birth canal, children are swollen, with bruises, with red eyes; skinny, with thin and long arms and legs; with scaly red skin, a scattering of pimples, or with black silky hair on the ears. Do not worry, in a couple of months the baby will smooth out, eat fat, extra hair fall out. By the age of three months, most babies finally look like model baby photographs. However, some are beautiful right away, but be prepared for anything.

Newborns sleep a lot

The first 2-3 weeks of his life, the child spends 16-20 hours in a dream, interrupted by food, soiling diapers and trying to understand what is happening around. Getting ready for with a baby, you might be surprised. Use this opportunity to recover after childbirth, sleep yourself! By the third week, many begin to have colic, with which everyone struggles with varying degrees of success, and that's when all the fun begins.

Babies make sounds all the time

They sneeze, sniff, creak, scurry. Most often, the cause of sneezing is too dry air in the apartment, causing the mucus in the nose to dry out and the appearance of familiar boogers. A child with boogers can become a real tyrant, because the nasal passages of a newborn are narrow and tortuous, and without nasal breathing it becomes difficult to eat and sleep, which the child honestly reports with the only means available during this period - screaming. The way out is air humidifiers and instillation into the nose of saline or its analogues “with the water of some sea”, of which there is darkness in any pharmacy.

Hiccups are rarely caused by hypothermia.

The most obvious cause of hiccups in a newborn is air entering the stomach during feeding or. A full stomach presses on the diaphragm, the nerve endings of which are irritated, send an impulse to the brain and immediately receive a response back - the diaphragm begins to contract often, often, while the lungs grab air, producing a specific sound. You can hold the baby in a “column” so that he burps. The child himself does not suffer from hiccups, although sometimes it lasts a very long time and prevents him from falling asleep.

It is not necessary to bathe a newborn

Of course, bathing a baby is a pleasant process for everyone, but it is during the neonatal period that it is complicated by an umbilical wound, which is not recommended to be wetted. Here you can get out: bathe in a small baby bath, in boiled water, or you can simply wash it after defecation under the tap or wipe it with a damp baby wipe until the umbilical wound overgrows. After - absolute freedom bathe as much as you like.

newborns can swim

The sight of a baby floating in a bathtub can completely change your ideas about a child's adaptability to the outside world. It's really impressive. Unfortunately, the umbilical wound greatly complicates the child's acquaintance with water. However, after 3-5 weeks, he will still be able to swim, later the ability will be lost without training. If you take the trouble to accustom the child to inflatable ring or free swimming, it will be possible to let him into a large bath, and sit next to him and be touched. It is categorically impossible to leave a child in the bathroom unattended, either with a circle, or even in an inflatable spacesuit as a whole.

Breast milk will be as it should be

The child will receive all the trace elements needed at the moment, even if you eat poorly and irregularly. Your body's resources will be enough to compensate for the shortcomings of your diet for the first 2-3 months. The child will definitely receive calcium, you must choose from where: from your teeth or from the cottage cheese you ate.

Sterile cleanliness around the newborn is not needed

Of course, you should wash your hands with soap and, if possible, limit your child's contact with snotty relatives. But daily boiling, sterilizing and washing everything around with bleach is superfluous. With elementary household bacteria children's body must learn to cope on his own.

Don't lick a baby's pacifier

You can just rinse it off wet wipe, pour boiling water over if you are very afraid of germs, but does it really occur to someone that your saliva is able to neutralize something other than visible debris? If you are absolutely confident in the health of your and your partner's teeth, don't smoke, drink enough fluids - okay, lick (I'm still against it!).

Don't try to make your breast milk fatter

No need to eat sour cream instead of kefir while breastfeeding. Most of the calories are likely to settle on your sides, and fat milk it will be harder for the baby to suck and much harder to digest. In the first month, the child should gain only 600 grams. Despite the fact that it is traditionally customary for us to brag about well-fed babies, it will be difficult for you to carry it yourself, and that’s all. physical activity a chubby child is given with great difficulty.

Babies are born with a specific set of reflexes

There are about 75 of them in total, it is absolutely not necessary to know everything, but the following look pretty funny:

Sucking reflex - the child begins to rhythmically suck on any object that is in his mouth: your nose, chin, collarbone, knee. Hungry babies are furious and picky.
The hug reflex - with a sudden noise, for example, a loud clap next to the child, he first takes the arms to the sides, while opening his fists, and then, as it were, covers himself with his arms.
Reflex of support, straightening and automatic walking - if the child supported under the arms is placed on a support, he straightens the body and stands on half-bent legs on a full foot; if it is slightly tilted forward, then it makes stepping movements on the surface.
Babinski's reflex - if you run your fingertip along the outer edge of the sole of the baby in the direction from the heel to the fingers, then they fan out.
Grasping reflex (monkey) - when pressed on the palm of a newborn, he grabs and firmly holds the fingers put into his palm. The child can even be raised in this way above the support.

Healthy skin does not need to be smeared with anything

If your baby is not irritated, the multi-step diaper change routines (remove, wash buttocks, dry, sprinkle with powder, cream, put on a new diaper) can and should be simplified. You really only need to rinse your ass or wipe it with a damp cloth and dry it. If there is irritation, there can be a great many reasons: too many clothes under which the child sweats corny, too many baby cream, which clogs the pores of the diaper and prevents the rapid absorption of secretions, poor-quality diapers, errors in the mother's diet. The easiest way to soothe a little irritation is to leave the child to ventilate more often with a bare, clean booty. If the skin of the armpits and under the diaper is noticeably redder than the rest of the body, the problem is overheating. No need to stop using diapers, it is better to reduce the temperature in the apartment or wear less clothes.

Baby poop is very different from adult poop.

This fact must simply be accepted. While the baby is eating, growing and sleeping (that is, doing everything that a newborn is supposed to do), the contents of his diaper can be anything. Any color and consistency. If you are breastfeeding, there may be no stool for 2-4 days at all, and this is also the norm: milk is absorbed completely. The motherly “I don’t like our poop” is perhaps the bread and butter of probiotic makers. Don't like it, don't eat it.

There are no identical children

Comparing your child to someone else's is not the best the best activity. Compare it with the norms of development at the current age, this is quite enough. A child is born with character, usually the character of the next of kin. Perhaps you will finally have the opportunity to look at yourself from the outside in some way. Relax and receive.