Congratulations new parents, it was lovely to meet so many of you recently at the baby and Toddler Show at Sandown park.
Some of you are expecting baby soon and some later in the summer, and some have recently had their babies. So many CONGRATULATIONS!
Is it goodbye to sleep when your baby is born? No, of course not, but you may have to fit in with the baby’s feed/sleep pattern for a while.
New-Borns can sleep up to 17 hours in 24 hours and they will wake frequently for feeds. Remember their stomachs are only as big as their fists so that’s why they can only take little feeds at first.
New-Born babies cannot tell the difference between day or night
The babies have been snug and warm in your womb for all this time listening to the sounds of your body, and seeing only darkness, and suddenly once born, they are out in a world that is light, bright, and noisy, which for some baby personalities this is more difficult for the new-born to get used to…
The placenta produces melatonin (the sleep-inducing hormone) so that’s why some babies sleep so much at first, so take advantage of this sleepy window and rest after the birth. As the days go by you will notice baby getting more wakeful as the amount of melatonin reduces in their body and they don’t start making their own until 3-4months.
New-Born crying. What is going on?
Firstly, check if there is any medical reason such as reflux, a difficulty feeding and/or latching on to the breast with tongue tie and some allergies can present early such as cow’s milk intolerance, but all these concerns can to be checked by GP, paediatrician, health visitor, midwife, or lactation consultant. Or see a cranial osteopath which can really help with things like infantile colic.
The good news is I will reassure you that most new-born’s do not cry all the time, and they can sleep up to eight and half to 10 hours at night in between feeds, and up to 7 hours in the day for 4 to 5 naps in between wakeful windows of 45-90 mins so you can get lots of rest in between even when the sleep is more spread out over the 24 hours.
This is the important message to Mum & Dad with a new-born …you need to rest when the baby rests, because they will be waking at night to feed.
Dad you are the gatekeeper, do not allow a mass of visitors who expect cups of tea & sandwiches to be made for them. The visitors need to be the sort who will help you in the early days especially. Someone to hang out the washing, clean the bathroom, or do the sink full of washing up, or mow the lawn.
If the baby is sleeping you sleep, or you take the time to jump in the shower, put some laundry in to the washing machine. Your life will not be the same for a while.
Remember, you will have probably a maximum amount of 45 minutes to get something done before baby next needs you in the daytime in between feeds in the early weeks. If they sleep longer then put your feet up!
