Throughout your pregnancy, you have been looking forward to the arrival of your newborn baby. You kept busy with buying baby bedding, decorating your baby's nursery, and dreaming of the day you'll bring baby home. Now that survived those exhausting hours of labor and delivery, your baby is finally here! Though the entire family may be excited about baby's arrival, you may find yourself feeling a bit frazzled and overwhelmed.
Don't fret. Many new parents go through a rollercoaster of emotions after their baby arrives. (And you thought your crazy mood swings would disappear after your pregnancy!) The stress and whirlwind of activity of caring for your newborn can be physically and emotionally draining.
From bonding with your baby to bathing baby to feeding your newborn exhaustion is part of the parenting experience. Being a new mom or dad means saying hello to sleepless nights, frequent feedings, and all those diaper changes! Newborns have round-the-clock needs that only mom and dad can fill.
Maybe you wish you could go back to the days when you were still deciding on which crib bedding sets to buy. Once your baby gets a little bit older, you'll soon learn how rewarding parenthood is . . . especially after you hear the words "mama" or "dada" for the first time!
As a new parent, you probably have hundreds of questions about caring for your newborn baby. You may wonder why your baby's head is so pointy and if it will ever round out. Perhaps you want to know what lotion or sunscreen is best for your baby, and what about the foods that baby should stay away in the first year of life?
Women's Healthcare Topics is here to help you figure it all out! We add new articles every week, and we will answer any question you may have! (And we know you have a lot of questions!)
Read everything you can about newborn care, and soon you will be on your way to feeling more confidant as a parent and, of course, you'll have a healthy and happy child.
If you're a first-time parent, caring for your newborn baby's health can be very nerve wrecking. Any sign of illness can worry you. You want to do the best job possible, and be the best parent you can be. However, when your baby gets sick, what do you do? Should you call the pediatrician at any sign of illness?
Many experienced parents will tell you that it's all about your gut feeling. When you feel that something is seriously wrong, you should not hesitate to call your baby's doctor. But for common newborn complications, such as baby acne or diaper rash, experience is the best teacher.
Keep in mind that your baby's immune system is very immature, so he or she is vulnerable to many viruses and illnesses that adults have immunity to. It's common for babies to catch little colds here and there. Complications in newborn babies that you should be aware of include: fever, dehydration, vomiting, behavioral changes, eye discharge and infection, and rashes.
Although you shouldn't rush to the E.R. at the first sign of symptoms, you may want to consult your pediatrician or baby's doctor if you are concerned.
Most newborn babies are fairly healthy. When they do become sick, they can get sick very quickly. As a parent, stay informed on the signs and symptoms of illnesses and read up on common illnesses that can affect newborn babies and infants. Education will alleviate many of your concerns and fears.
Women's Healthcare Topics is here to help. In this section, you'll learn everything you will want to know about newborn health and newborn complications. If you educate yourself, you can detect the signs of complications before they spiral out of control. After all, a healthy baby equals a happy parent.
Feeding baby is not always easy, especially since it disrupts your sleep cycle. Get ready for many sleepless nights after you bring baby home for the first time! In the first few weeks after birth, regardless of whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed, newborns need to be fed at least every three hours.
If you are breastfeeding, your newborn baby will be nursing between eight to twelve times every day. As he or she gets older, you will be nursing less often, but you may still be nursing every one to three hours. You will probably breastfeed "on demand" when baby is hungry. For mothers who are bottle-feeding, babies will probably be drinking two to three ounces of formula every two to four hours. Try not to go more than four hours without feeding your baby. However, as experienced moms will tell you, your newborn baby will give you signs when he or she is hungry!
You may worry that your baby is not eating enough, but always trust your instincts when it comes to feeding baby. If your baby is producing at least six wet diapers a day and gaining weight, you have nothing to worry about.
Call your pediatrician or newborn baby's doctor if you have any concerns. In the meanwhile, Women's Healthcare Topics is here to help you navigate feeding your newborn! Learn about breastfeeding strategies and problems, and also about formula feeding. We want you to have the best parenting experience possible!
Being a new mom is tough, not to mention exhausting. You want the best for your baby, but with so many shopping options for baby bedding, baby car seats, breast pumps, crib mattresses, baby swings, baby strollers, and more . . . where is a busy mom to look?
When it comes to purchasing products for your baby, you want to look for high-quality products that not only are fit your budget and are also safe. Safety is absolutely vital when it comes to buying anything for your child. Before making the commitment to buying anything for baby, take your time and research the product. Go online and read what other parents and experts have to say about that particular product.
With any infant product that you buy, remember to send in your product registration! This is something many of us forget to do, but your child's health and safety are most important. Registering allows the company to have an outlet to notify you in the event that a product is recalled.
As you are researching, check out our buying guide articles for everything you need to know about shopping for your newborn baby!
The articles in the "Tips for New Moms" section will cover the basics of what to look for when purchasing newborn baby products. We teach you about key features to look for, accessories you may want to purchase, different styles of products, safety tips, and much more!
But this section isn't just about baby products. We also give you informative tips and fun facts on things that mom cares about, such as top baby names and having sex after delivery!
Symptoms of a Sick Baby
When it comes to your baby's health, you want to err on the safe side. Because your baby's immune system is still not well developed, the occasional cold, fever, or infection is often inevitable. Plus, babies are very curious creatures. They love to touch and taste everything, from their favorite stuffed animal to their little feet! Germs are everywhere, and you can't completely sterilize your home.
Did you know that babies can average up to seven colds a year? For your newborn baby to develop a healthy immune system, he or she will have to come into contact with common germs and viruses to develop immunity to them. As a parent, you should face the fact that your newborn baby will get sick a lot. But how do you know when it's time to call the doctor? You don't want to overreact, but you also don't want a dangerously ill child.
You should seek urgent emergency care if you have any concerns about your newborn. Major concerns include a baby that can't be woken up, stops breathing, doesn't respond, or has been seriously injured. As with anything else, always trust your maternal instincts when it comes to your baby.
