Posts Tagged ‘first day’
What to Expect with Baby’s First Day at Home
October 26th, 2009 | 
Author: How is it possible the staff has let me leave the hospital with such a helpless little creature? I had these thoughts on the day I brought my baby home. My newborn seemed so different than those chubby babies I had babysat - and I was totally responsible for her health and well being! It had finally hit me; I was the parent, the one who magically has all the answers. Apparently there was no secret “confidence booster switch” which was flipped into the ON position after giving birth. Could I do this? It did not seem possible I could be as capable as she? The panic began to set in.
I found that placing my baby into the car seat was quite a feat. We had bought the best baby travel system we could find. The convenience of having an infant seat that fit perfectly in my car or stroller was wonderful. The previously perfect infant seat seemed to have grown to huge proportions once our new baby was lost in it! Wasn’t she safer in my arms than alone in a car seat! Logic and my husband managed to convince me to let go. Since they have limited muscle control, newborns end up scrunched down into one corner of their car seat. My husband calls it the “amoeba” stage. You should purchase some padded support for those first few weeks of amoeba life.
Once we were home, I struggled with needing to rest and wanting to be with our baby. Plus, she seemed constantly hungry. It was quite challenging to find a place in our home for nursing while we were both learning the process. Most moms find they need to try several positions before finding the one or two which work best. Some people use ring slings, fabric carriers that allow you to carry the baby around with you. If adjusted correctly, it can be a great way to position the baby for nursing. I preferred to use my ring sling as a convenient hands-free carrier. Both baby and I found we preferred the rocking chair for nursing.
My baby needed changing every time she ate and often times in between her meals. It seems that newborns can put out an impressive amount. I had chosen to use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers. The adjustable elastic really helped in the learning stage for me and my baby. Some interesting diapering issues arise from a a “liquid only” diet.” Most of the biggest diaper issues occurred in the first week. Be prepared for the unexpected is the motto you will live by! No matter how good the cloth diapers were, they only worked as well as my attempts to fasten them. Of course they will not work at all if you do not fasten them quickly enough!
Although that first day home is daunting, it is the start of an amazing new chapter. Adaptability is the key to the first months. Your abilities will be constantly tested. I constantly called on all my resources, pretending to be as capable and in control as my mother. One day I realized she had probably been pretending as well - that day I realized I was a parent too.
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