The long wait is over. Your baby is snuggled warmly and safely in your arms, making you feel both relieved and delighted. He may not be as picture perfect as you had imagined, and your feelings of excitement and exhilaration may be dampened by feelings of fatigue and post-delivery discomfort and pain, but the feelings of motherhood are undoubtedly thrilling. It's good for you to know what to expect in the coming few weeks as this may help you to cope better. Bear in mind that no matter how challenging or stressful this stage is, it will soon be over!
First appearance
Your expectations of a beautiful, chubby baby will not materialize until the baby is several months old. At birth, your little one may look different from what you had expected: he might have an elongated head (due to his passage through the birth canal), puffy eyelids, bluish complexion, flat nose and legs drawn up. As the first few days and weeks pass, the puffiness will subside and the baby will start to look like what you had hoped for.
Feelings of fatigue
Don't despair at what may feel like a roller coaster of emotions. The days and weeks after your baby's birth will be chaotic to say the least. You will be constantly tired, longing for a good night's sleep.
Feeling fatigued, stressed, disappointed and overwhelmed with the new addition in your life can lead to a mild form of depression. This is often referred to as the "baby blues" and affects some new mothers. You may feel anxiety, sadness, unworthiness and irritability, get headaches and feel like crying. The blues can occur within a day or two after birth, or they may attack a few weeks later. Other factors that may lead to the baby blues are disappointment about not having a smooth birth, concerns about your baby's well-being or a response to post-delivery pain or discomfort. (Refer to chapter two for tips to feel better.)
It is said that the hardest part of post-delivery blues lasts for about six weeks after delivery. Traditionally many doctors think of the post-partum time as six weeks because this is usually the amount of time it takes for your uterus to shrink back to its approximate pre-pregnancy size. However, do not expect miracles. No magical spell will occur on the first day after the six weeks, yet by that time you should have regained your strength both physically and emotionally to deal with your baby. He, in turn, will also be on his way to adjusting his sleeping and feeding patterns.
By the end of the first six weeks, your gynecologist will probably want to examine you to determine if you are physically and emotionally returning to your pre-pregnancy state.
Baby's pediatrician
You should find a good pediatrician for your baby before you deliver. Once you are caring for your baby after delivery, with the around-the-clock schedule this requires, it will be harder to find the time to look for a doctor. It is easier to know ahead of time when you will need to bring your baby in for a first check-up, and it is good to be familiar and comfortable with your baby's pediatrician. He will give you a list of vaccinations required for the baby, and will be following with you the baby's weight gain and size. You should know that generally, babies lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first few days of life. By 10 - 14 days, they regain the lost weight. After that, the baby's weight gain will primarily depend on how well he is feeding.
Feeding time
While you are breastfeeding, you might experience soreness in your breasts due to engorgement and cracked nipples. Do not despair and teach your baby how to "latch on" properly so you can both enjoy the beautiful experience of breastfeeding. In the rare case when a baby is not getting enough milk from you and his weight gain is below normal, ask the advice of his pediatrician. He may recommend formula milk suitable for your baby.
Calming a colicky baby
Your baby will probably be colicky and fussy during the first few weeks after birth. Try to soothe him without getting too frustrated or tense. Ask your pediatrician for advice that can help relax an over-colicky baby.
Newborn Jaundice
Newborn jaundice is not an illness, but rather a physiological condition in which the baby's blood contains too much bilirubin, a substance formed when the body breaks down red blood cells. Normally, the liver processes bilirubin and then it is removed from the body through the stools. However, in some cases a newborn's liver is not fully mature and may not be able to process bilirubin quickly enough.
Closely observe your baby for jaundice when you return home after delivery. (Many hospitals also ask you to bring your baby back for a check-up a few days after birth, since this is when jaundice develops.) A yellowish coloration of the body is the most obvious sign of jaundice. It starts from the head and goes down to the toes. The yellow color is often most apparent in the whites of the eyes and under the nails. To check for jaundice, gently press your finger against your baby's skin and then remove it. If the skin where you pressed looks yellow, then your baby may have jaundice. This condition can last a week to 10 days. Mild jaundice does not require treatment, but your pediatrician will give you some tips to help your baby overcome this condition.
