How to Prepare for a Newborn’s Needs

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Having a baby is a wonderful experience, but it also requires much preparation. Pregnant women have nine months to look forward to holding their little one, but the moment he arrives, there are many things to manage. It‘s worth taking the time to get ready for the first few weeks after delivery.



Baby’s Health Care

Infants will require regular checkups with their pediatricians to ensure they are developing properly and receiving proper care for any health issues that might arise As a means to help prepare for a child’s future health, many families look into cord blood banking.

This service allows families to collect the newborn’s cord blood immediately following birth and have it stored at a private facility. The family then has a source of stem cells that could potentially be used in a medical treatment down the road, if needed. As babies get older, pediatricians will also monitor development for achieving milestones such as rolling over, mobility, verbal, etc.

Recovery

Each woman is different, and so is each pregnancy.

A routine delivery will usually leave a woman with some discomfort as the uterus returns to its regular size and her body recuperates. She may also be fatigued and preoccupied with caring for her newborn.

If possible, it’s a good idea to have someone at home to help with housework and cooking so the mother can concentrate on taking care of herself and her baby. However, many women feel energized after birth – finally holding their infant is a life-changing experience.

Feeding

Will the baby be breastfed or bottle-fed?

Bottle-fed newborns will need baby formula since babies cannot handle cow’s milk for the first year of life. Formula can be bought as a ready-to-go liquid or as a powder to be mixed with water. If the baby has allergies, he may need a special formula.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep the bottle and supplies sterile. Another is to find a nipple that the baby will accept. Doctors can give advice on the different shapes and sizes available.

Women who plan to breastfeed for the first time should take a childbirth class or consult with lactation specialists to learn about feeding techniques. Tips for how to breastfeed are also available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Women should consider buying a pump to express milk when they have to be away from baby. They also might want to buy nursing bras with flaps that open for feeding. Breast-fed babies should be offered the breast shortly after birth.

Sleep

Women should plan to sleep when the baby sleeps, which could be any time of day or night. Newborns need to eat frequently and it often takes a while for them to sleep more at night than during the day and to eventually make it through the night without waking up.


This guest post is written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26