Preparing for Life with a Newborn Baby
Breastfeeding, Baby Care and Sleep Resources for Expectant Parents
Apr 7, 2009
It is important to prepare for labour and your baby's birth, but it is equally important to prepare yourself and your partner for life after the baby's birth. Preparing for life with a new baby means learning about the typical newborn baby's needs before yours arrives, so you'll know what to expect during the first few weeks of your life together.
Learn about Breastfeeding
If you're planning on breastfeeding or think you might try it, read about the process of normal breastfeeding, common problems and their solutions. Watch videos or attend a La Leche league meeting to learn what a good latch looks like, so you will be able to know when baby has latched well and when to try again. A good latch will help you avoid problems such as cracked/bleeding nipples or slow weight gain for baby that can be caused or made worse by an ineffective latch.
Newborn Sleep Patterns
Try talking to friends who are already parents about what you can expect in the early days with a newborn. Newborns do sleep a lot, but they also wake up frequently. A typical breastfed newborn will wake for a feed and diaper change every 2 hrs around the clock for the first 3-4 weeks. Being prepared for this kind of sleep disruption can help you plan to have a helper such as a close friend or family member come by to help so that you can catch up on sleep during the day.
The Emotional Postpartum Rollercoaster
Expect dramatic mood swings and emotions as your hormones drop to post-pregnancy levels. It's normal and expected to have a weepy and emotional day around the third day postpartum, usually when your milk comes in and pregnancy hormones are gone. As the high of the birth wears off and the sleep deprivation sets in, you may find yourself crying for no reason as well as being physically sore from the delivery and milk engorgement. As tough as it may seem, this is normal and expected. However, do educate yourself and your partner about the risk factors and symptoms of postpartum depression, and don't be afraid to seek help if you are experiencing PPD.
Preparing for a New Lifestyle
Having a baby will change you in ways you might never expect, and life with a baby comes with a whole new lifestyle. During pregnancy, find out where your local mom & baby groups meet. Getting out the door and talking with other moms going through the same experiences can make a world of difference to your day, and having a list of potential playgroups and drop ins ready before you give birth means that you don't have to do all that research when you're already sleep deprived.
Becoming a new mom or dad can be an intense and emotional experience, with blissful moments and trying ones. Being prepared with practical knowledge about newborns can help you steer through the difficult times and enjoy the happy moments more.
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