
Congratulations on the New Arrival…
We look forward to sharing the years ahead with you!
While we recognize that new parents hardly have time to read
multiple parenting books, we put together a short list of
reminders and suggestions. For further routine questions
about your baby, we would be happy to discuss them during
regular business hours or at your next visit.
Feeding-Breast: If you have chosen to nurse your
baby, you will be providing the most easily digestible food
that also helps babies fight infections. We suggest that you
try to nurse your baby every 2 to 4 hours. Your baby is
getting enough if: you feel that your breasts are smaller
after nursing, your baby seems satisfied, and your baby
bowel movements (BM) as expected (1 or more (BM) day 1, 2 or more
(BM)
day 2, 3 or more (BM) day 3 and 4 or more after that. If
you prefer, you may also count wet diapers- 5/6 wet diapers
per day is another good sign that your baby is getting
enough.
Feeding- Formula: All major brands will provide
the important nutrients your baby needs to grow. You should
definitely buy a formula with iron and DHA & ARA (these
substances have been shown to be important for eye and brain
development. We recommend you stay with one formula unless
we discuss a change with you. You should plan to feed 2/4
ounces every 2-4 hour with one 5-hour stretch at night.
Stools of breast-fed babies typically loose, yellow and
seedy. Bottle-fed babies have stools that are a little
pastier. If your baby’s stools get hard (like pebbles).
Temperature: You did not need to take our baby’s
temperature unless there is something that is worrying you.
In example your baby is too sleepy not feeding well. Call us
for temperatures over 100.3F or 38C. We recommend digital
thermometers under the arm or in the bottom. (Ear
thermometers are not accurate enough in newborns.) Never
give Tylenol to newborn. In general, babies need to wear the
same number of clothes/layers that are keeping you
comfortable plus one.
Sleeping: Remember that all babies should be put
to sleep on their backs in order to decrease the risk of
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Babies do not choke on
their backs, even if they do spit up because they turn their
heads to the side while sleeping. In order to reduce your
baby’s risk of potential plagiocephaly (AKA "misshapen
head") you should vary the direction your baby faces while
sleeping at night (e.g. right or left). Also, to make sure
that your baby develops good strength in the neck, back, and
shoulders, all several times a day while the baby is awake.
Just place your baby on the stomach and enjoy the exercise!
Cord Care: Some suggest using alcohol to clean the
cord several times a day, which is fine though not
necessary. Keep the area clean and dry and the cord will
fall off sometime in the first month of life (usually
between 1-3 weeks). You may notice a few drops of blood when
the cord falls off and this is normal. If there I pus,
drainage, odor or a reddened area around the cord, please
call us. You may submerge your baby's belly in water after
the umbilical cord falls off and umbilicus is healed.
Circumcision: Keep an ointment over the tip of his
penis for the first week or two until skin appears well
healed. If your baby has a plastic ring around his
penis, it will fall off on its own. Call us if it has
not fallen off in >1 week. If your child is not
circumcised, do NOT attempt to forcefully retract the
foreskin or us cotton swabs to clean under the foreskin.
Normal bathing will keep him clean until the foreskin
naturally retracts
(at one or more years of age).
Mom's Hormones: As a result of maternal hormones,
newborn girls may have vaginal discharge and even a first
period in the first week of life. Both boys and girls
can have breast buds that will resolve over the first weeks
of life. Babies may also have acne towards the end of
the 1st month as a result of maternal hormones.
Crying: Even when well-fed, dry, and cuddled,
babies will cry. The normal crying trend for a new baby is
to cry more and more until about 6-8 weeks of age and then
start to cry less and less. Some babies go through a period
of crying every day, usually at about the same time and it
may last from minutes to hours. Babies cannot be spoiled by
too much holding in these first weeks of life so please hold
them when they cry as much as you want to. As long as
there is no fever, your baby is eating and making dirty
diapers, and your baby has otherwise been acting normally,
crying should not cause you to worry. You may try a
snuggle-type device, soft music, a walk in the stroller or a
car ride. If all else fails, try to have another
trusted adult help to give you a break during these fussy
periods.
Trips: It is OK to go places with your newborn if
you are feeling up to it. However, we recommend that
you limit exposure of your newborn to large crowds and
people who are ill. If you are planning a trip far
away, please call or come in so we can discuss it.
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