Giving birth comes with a lot of feelings, it is a roller coaster ride of emotions. It is a moment to cherish and appreciate. Another thing that comes with giving birth is the lessons. You begin to learn new things every day about your newborn. You learn about your child’s health, sleeping patterns, eating habits, preferences, and so on. The learning is never ending; with each day comes a new discovery. It is therefore important to equip yourself with the resources and knowledge you need to make motherhood a fun and stress free experience.
We bring to you 10 facts about your newborn you need to know:
1. Babies cry a lot: Don’t be surprised, that is how newborn babies communicate. Your baby is fully dependent on you. They simply cry when they are hungry, wet, feeling sleepy, etc. in the first few months.
2. Babies may look funny during the first weeks: Don’t worry about the smooshed eyes, squashed face, or puffy eyes of your baby’s appearance in the first year of life.
3. Babies sleep a lot: Most newborn babies sleep about 16 to 20 hours per day.
4. Babies love to be swaddled: It makes them feel safe and secured. It can also make them feel comfortable and help keep check of their startle reflex.
5. Babies often lose their hair in the first few months: This is called Telogen effluvium. Due to the fact that babies sleep on their back, some of their hair fall off. You can do your best to alternate their sleeping positions and get them a soft satin pillow to prevent hair loss.
6. Your baby will be hungry: Don’t be surprised when your baby gets hungry every 2 to 3 hours. Babies need food for sustenance to grow and develop because their tummy is still small.
7. Babies might not sleep through the night as you expect them to: They might wake up at night to feed, don’t be surprised. Your newborn’s sleeping pattern will look nothing like yours.
8. Tummy Time: Babies will also need to spend some time sleeping on their tummies to strengthen their back muscles, for limb coordination, and head control. You can introduce tummy time when a baby is about 3 to 4 months. Endeavour to talk to your doctor before introducing the tummy time to your baby.
9. Babies are always listening: Research shows that babies are always listening even before they are born. That is why babies recognize their mother’s voice by the time they are born.
10. In their first 3 months, babies can’t see very far. According to WebMD, “newborns cannot see very far -- only objects that are 8-15 inches away.”
