Taking care of the newborn

Becoming a mother is an ecstatic experience. The joys of motherhood come with the daunting task of taking care of the newborn. Newborns are adorable, but they can be unpredictable too. Innumerable questions pop in the minds of young mothers.

How do I hold my baby?
How many feeding and pooping sessions are ok? What about taking care of umbilical cord? Can I give my baby a pacifier or may be a bottle?

Winter care for neonatal

Winter means more time indoors and people in close proximity to each other. The result often means more than joy is spread: germs often get passed around as well. Here are some health issues to consider this season:

Newborns need to be loved, kept clean, warmed and fed. By doing all this, you are building your child's sense of security required for his/her later development

Allow plenty of rest for your baby and yourself

Frequently feed babies to develop better sleep patterns. Breast feeding is the best option as besides nourishment, breastfeeding may give babies immunity against infections and also gives mother and baby a chance to bond

There should be no frequent outings especially during extreme winters, and should be covered properly while going out. Both baby and mother should share the same bed to have the natural heat and warmth from the mother

There should be minimum visitors at home during winters and least baby handling should be done

Stay away from baby and mother if anybody is suffering with cough and cold to avoid any kind of infection

If the child is totally dependent on breast-milk then it may suffer with transitional diarrhoea which involves number of watery stools in a day. But still consult pediatrician

Infants often have watery diarrhoea intermittently associated with constipation (one stool after 96 hours). They might pass it immediately after waking up and after feeds. They may even pass undigested foodstuff in their stools