| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Others might require medical attention in the form |
| Congratulations on your new baby! You have just | | | | of bililight therapy. |
| brought your baby home and are pretty excited | | | | Babies born by normal deliveries usually have |
| about everything. Perhaps you don't even mind | | | | misshapen heads. Your baby's head will gradually |
| the fact that getting a good night's sleep is getting | | | | attain a regular shape; you can prevent flattening |
| tougher by the day. | | | | by giving her a little 'tummy time' everyday. |
| Getting into a routine | | | | Colic and continuous crying are things that most |
| This is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. | | | | parents dread. Hours of dealing with a crying baby |
| By the end of the first month, new parents | | | | coupled with lack of sleep and exhaustion can |
| discover that their baby lets them slip into a | | | | drive anyone crazy. It is vital to seek help and |
| comfortable (but exhausting) routine. If this is | | | | give both your baby and yourself a break during |
| your first baby, you probably feel totally | | | | spells of colic. Time tested methods such as |
| amateurish. Relax, let your baby's cues guide you | | | | rocking, "the colic carry", swaddling and soothing |
| and very soon you will be a seasoned pro! | | | | music can work wonders on a baby who seems |
| Rock-a-bye baby | | | | to be screaming his lungs out. |
| Your baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day | | | | Ouch! It hurts |
| between regular feedings. If you are lucky, your | | | | Your baby will receive a Hepatitis B shot in the |
| baby will sleep for longer stretches at night. Do | | | | first month of life. This shot is not known to |
| not let your one-month old baby sleep through | | | | cause fever. Your baby will probably cry for a |
| the night. At this age, infants need to feed at | | | | few minutes and that will be all. |
| least every 2-3 hours for healthy development. | | | | Allergic to milk? |
| Regular feeds are also important in stimulating | | | | Milk allergy is the most common form of food |
| your milk supply, which will get established during | | | | allergy in infants. Frequent throwing up, loose |
| the first month. | | | | watery stools and wheezing might be signs of a |
| Baby is growing | | | | milk allergy. If your baby is intolerant to milk, try |
| By the end of one month, your baby should be | | | | another formula before switching to soy |
| able to focus on faces, lift his head briefly when | | | | substitutes. |
| on stomach, and probably startle in response to a | | | | Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing |
| loud noise. All babies reach developmental | | | | of gas are common in infants and will disappear |
| milestones at a genetically set time, which differs | | | | once the kinks in his bowel get straightened out. |
| with every baby. Do not expect your baby to go | | | | We are different |
| by the book. Your baby's weight might decrease | | | | All new parents have numerous questions lurking |
| in the first few days as he loses fluids | | | | in their minds, especially first time parents. No |
| postdelivery. Most newborns stop losing weight by | | | | book or article can explain everything about your |
| the fifth day and surpass their birthweights in | | | | baby, who like all babies is different from the rest. |
| about fifteen days. | | | | Write down the specific questions you have about |
| Cause for concern? | | | | your baby to ask your healthcare provider. |
| More than fifty percent of babies develop | | | | Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and |
| newborn jaundice because their immature livers | | | | make the best out of your first month together. |
| cannot handle the extra bilirubin (the yellow | | | | The first month is the perfect time to forge a |
| pigment) they produce. Mild to moderate | | | | bond with baby, a bond for life. |
| physiological jaundice requires no treatment. | | | | |