Your First Night at Home with Baby After Delivery

So you just had your baby and are home for the first time with your new bundle of joy. While this may be an exciting time, it can also be a very scary time for new mothers trying to figure out their first night at home with the baby after their delivery. We've got some tips that may help you ease the process of comforting your baby in a new environment.

1. Talk to your Baby

Talk to your baby as often as you can, either directly talking to your baby or talking in the background while your baby is awake. They've been hearing your voice since they were in the womb, and are one of the most familiar things to them. Keeping that voice alive in their minds makes them feel comfortable and safe.

2. Skin to Skin Contact when all else Fails
Usually the second day of your baby's time on this earth is the hardest for them. They may be a bit confused and tend to cry a lot; during this time, however, you will most likely still be at the hospital with nurses who re familiar with this.

But once you go home, you will be on your own in dealing with your baby if he or she begins to cry inexplicably and nothing seems to soothe them. One of the easiest ways to soothe your baby if they are crying, and they've already been fed, burped, and have had naps, is to engage in old-fashioned skin to skin contact.

Remove your babies clothing and remove your own shirt and bra. Hold your baby close to your chest and let him hear your heartbeat and the trembling of your voice deep within your chest cavity. The warmth of your skin is something your baby craves, and as we said in step one, your voice is something that will naturally make them feel safe. It would be more comfortable to engage in skin to skin contact while in the comfort of your bed. You can drape both you and baby within a warm, soft blanket and hold him first long as you like. Usually this will do the trick with in a few minutes.

3. Am I Producing Enough Milk?

It is normal for women to only produce a small amount of colostrum during the first few days after giving birth. This can be as little as just a few drops, but it is heavy in nutrients and vitamins that your baby needs and is usually just enough for them. Talk to your doctor if you're still having concerns, but remember that this is completely normal and your baby may not need much more than what you are already producing.

In the event that your doctor does say you're not producing enough colostrum or milk, you can opt for supplemental baby formulas, which are currently on the market. Both Similac and Enfamil have supplemental blends specially designed for breast-feeding mothers. These blends are not meant to feed babies as an only source of nutrition, for that, use their regular formula bases. Instead, supplemental blends are to be used as part of a breast-feeding routine to provide your baby with extra nutrition.

4. How Often Should I bathe my Baby?

Usually, doctors will tell you to only bathe your baby every 1 to 2 days. Babies don't naturally produce a lot of body soil, therefore, they don't need as many baths as adults. However, it is recommended to wash your baby's hands, feet, and face whenever they eat or come into contact with any pets, toys, or dirty objects.

5. How can I get my Baby to sleep Through the Night?

Most babies will not sleep through the night, however, we found that cleanliness is the key to increasing your baby's ability to sleep through the night. Always make sure that your baby has had a thorough bath, has been powdered, diapered comfortably, and dressed in clean soft clothing.

Make sure that your baby's bedding is also cleaned, and try to change your babies sheets every few days. Do not forget to give your baby some milk before bedtime. While this may increase their chances of wetting through their diaper, babies who go to sleep hungry or craving milk, have a tendency to wake up more times throughout the night because they are uncomfortable.

So the key here is to feed baby right before bed, bathe baby, powder baby, and dress your baby in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. While your baby's clothes should be loose fitting, don't allow clothing to be so loose fitting that it can cause a safety hazard. Remove all items out of your baby's bed to eliminate any possibilities of suffocation and to make your baby more comfortable.

Although it may look aesthetically pleasing to have toys in your baby's crib, remember that babies, much like adults, like to be comfortable while sleeping. You wouldn't find it very comfortable to try to sleep in your bed surrounded by objects.