Three weeks on and here is what I've picked up about managing a newborn. Word of caution: it's not as hard as it looks.
-What do I do when a newborn cries?-
When a baby cries, the first thing you should not do is panic. Then,
No. 1: Check to see if she has a wet napkin. If she is in diapers, check to see if she has pooped. Clean accordingly.
No. 2: Check the time to see if it is feeding time. Sometimes this doesn't work because babies feed on demand, so rather than a 3 oz feed once every 2 hrs, it's more like 1 oz in the first hr, 1.5 in the second then 2 hrs later he may want 3 oz. But every baby has a pattern; it's up to the mom to figure out what her baby's pattern is. Some milk powder may go to waste if you are bottle feeding.
No. 3: Check the soles of her feet to see if he is cold (if the soles are cold, he's probably cold), or check the back of her neck if he's sweating (which means you need to adjust his sleeping place because it's getting warm or maybe remove one blanket or two). Adjust accordingly.
No. 4: Wind/colic/burping issues. There are a few ways to manage this. You place her head on your shoulder for support, hold her bottom with one arm and pat her back gently until she burps.
Edit: I've also found another move that will help. After you pat her while she is upright and leaning against you or your shoulder, move her back to a position where she is lying down. You need not put her down, just ensure that she is in a sleeping position, for like 5 seconds. Then, move her back up the the burping position. The gas should come out almost immediately, and in great volumes.
If it is too far down and she is crying to the point of screaming then put some medicated oil (the kind which people used for rheumatism and joint pains) onto a palm, rub the palm together, then place the warmed up hand on her tummy. You may be able to see an immediate reaction or at least a reaction within a minute or two later if wind really is the problem. While you're at it, also place both warmed up hands on the feet of the baby. Massage if it doesn't bother the baby. It's a very comforting move.
No. 5: The surroundings are too loud for her. Is there another toddler screaming next door? Is your blundering-couch-potato-no-good-nephew watching the TV with the volume seriously too loud for him to not consider hearing aids in half a decade? Adjust accordingly.
No. 6: She wants someone to carry them or hold them close. There are a few reasons for this. One would be that they want to feel the security that a warm body provides them. Add a mother's scent and something to suckle on and she will be sleeping like a log in no time.
VVIN (Very very important note): Keep your fingernails short when managing a newborn.
2 comments:
funny, i was going to make a checklist like this too except that mine is still ongoing since there's too much to consider.
O_o||| Would have been great help if you had done it before I delivered...
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