284 Vol 4 : Ch 284 - Guide for Newborn (2/2)
In addition to the supplies listed above, add:
1. an infant tub with 2 to 3 inches of warm water (to test the water temperature, feel the water with the inside of your elbow or wrist). An infant tub is a plastic tub that can fit in the bathtub; it's a better size for babies and makes bathing easier to manage.
2. Undress your baby and then place him or her in the water immediately, in a warm room, to prevent chills. Make sure the water in the tub is no more than 2 to 3 inches deep, and that the water is no longer running in the tub. Use one of your hands to support the head and the other hand to guide the baby in feet-first. Speaking gently, slowly lower your baby up to the chest into the tub.
3. Use a washcloth to wash his or her face and hair. Gently massage your baby's scalp with the pads of your fingers or a soft baby hairbrush, including the area over the fontanelles (soft spots) on the top of the head. When you rinse the soap or shampoo from your baby's head, cup your hand across the forehead so the suds run toward the sides and soap doesn't get into the eyes. Gently wash the rest of your baby's body with water and a small amount of soap.
4. Throughout the bath, regularly pour water gently over your baby's body so he or she doesn't get cold. After the bath, wrap your baby in a towel immediately, making sure to cover his or her head. Baby towels with hoods are great for keeping a freshly washed baby warm.
While bathing your infant, never leave the baby alone. If you need to leave the bathroom, wrap the baby in a towel and take him or her with you.
Circumcision and Umbilical Cord Care
Immediately after circumcision, the tip of the penis is usually covered with gauze coated with petroleum jelly to keep the wound from sticking to the diaper. Gently wipe the tip clean with warm water after a diaper change, then apply petroleum jelly to the tip so it doesn't stick to the diaper. Redness or irritation of the penis should heal within a few days, but if the redness or swelling increases or if pus-filled blisters form, infection may be present and you should call me immediately.
Umbilical cord care in newborns is also important. Some doctors suggest swabbing the area with rubbing alcohol until the cord stump dries up and falls off, usually in 10 days to 3 weeks, but others recommend leaving the area alone. As your doctor, I prefer to leave that area alone.
An infant's navel area shouldn't be submerged in water until the cord stump falls off and the area is healed. Until it falls off, the cord stump will change color from yellow to brown or black — this is normal. Call me if the navel area looks red or if a foul odor or discharge develops.
Feeding and Burping Your Baby
Whether feeding your newborn by breast or a bottle, you may be stumped as to how often to do so. Generally, it's recommended that babies be fed on demand — whenever they seem hungry. Your baby may cue you by crying, putting fingers in his or her mouth, or making sucking noises.
A newborn baby needs to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If you're breastfeeding, give your baby the chance to nurse about 10–15 minutes at each breast. If you're formula-feeding, your baby will most likely take about 2–3 ounces (60–90 milliliters) at each feeding. As for you Rei, since you're a working Mom then you need to take at least six weeks of leave and it can help you recover from childbirth and settle into a good breastfeeding routine. Practice expressing your milk by hand or with a breast pump several days or weeks before you have to go back to work. It can feel very different to pump breastmilk compared to breastfeeding your baby.
Some newborns may need to be awakened every few hours to make sure they get enough to eat. Call me right away if you need to wake your newborn often or if your baby doesn't seem interested in eating or sucking.
If you're formula-feeding, you can easily monitor if your baby is getting enough to eat, but if you're breastfeeding, it can be a little trickier. If your baby seems satisfied, produces about six wet diapers and several stools a day, sleeps well, and is gaining weight regularly, then he or she is probably eating enough.
Another good way to tell if your baby is getting milk is to notice if your breasts feel full before feeding your baby and less full after feeding.
Babies often swallow air during feedings, which can make them fussy. To help prevent this, burp your baby often. Try burping your baby every 2–3 ounces (60–90 milliliters) if you bottle-feed, and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed.
If your baby tends to be gassy, has gastroesophageal reflux, or seems fussy during feeding, try burping your little one after every ounce during bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding.
Try these burping tips:
1. Hold your baby upright with his or her head on your shoulder. Support your baby's head and back while gently patting the back with your other hand.
2. Sit your baby on your lap. Support your baby's chest and head with one hand by cradling your baby's chin in the palm of your hand and resting the heel of your hand on your baby's chest (be careful to grip your baby's chin not throat). Use the other hand to gently pat your baby's back.
3 Lay your baby face-down on your lap. Support your baby's head, making sure it's higher than his or her chest, and gently pat or rub his or her back.
4. If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change the baby's position and try burping for another few minutes before feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over, then keep him or her in an upright position for at least 10–15 minutes to avoid spitting up.
Sleeping Basics
As a new parent, you may be surprised to learn that your newborn, who seems to need you every minute of the day, actually sleeps about 16 hours or more!
Newborns typically sleep for periods of 2–4 hours. Don't expect yours to sleep through the night — the digestive system of babies is so small that they need nourishment every few hours and should be awakened if they haven't been fed for 4 hours.
When can you expect your baby to sleep through the night?
Many babies sleep through the night (between 6–8 hours) at 3 months of age, but if yours doesn't, it's not a cause for concern. Like adults, babies must develop their own sleep patterns and cycles, so if your newborn is gaining weight and appears healthy, don't despair if he or she hasn't slept through the night at 3 months.
It's important to always place babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Other safe sleeping practices include: not using blankets, quilts, sheepskins, stuffed animals, and pillows in the crib or bassinet (these can suffocate a baby); and sharing a bedroom (but not a bed) with the parents for the first 6 months to 1 year. Also be sure to alternate the position of your baby's head from night to night (first right, then left, and so on) to prevent the development of a flat spot on one side of the head.
Many newborns have their days and nights ”mixed up.” They tend to be more awake and alert at night, and more sleepy during the day. One way to help them is to keep stimulation at night to a minimum. Keep the lights low, such as by using a nightlight. Reserve talking and playing with your baby for the daytime. When your baby wakes up during the day, try to keep him or her awake a little longer by talking and playing.
Even though you may feel anxious about handling a newborn, in a few short weeks you'll develop a routine and be parenting like a pro!
Rei : (just listening her even though she research it in advance and taking notes for the one she didn't know yet then suddenly feel embarassed when Tae ask a question)
Tae : By the way Doc Annie?
Annie : Yes Mr. Jun?
Tae : It's still alright for me to have sex with Rei after her recuperation period and what if I got Rei pregnant again?
Annie : There are no rules about when to start having sex again after have given birth but you will wait her recuperation period. And Rei as Mr. Jun wife, if penetration hurts, say so because if you pretend that everything's all right when it isn't, you may start to see sex as a nuisance or unpleasant, rather than a pleasure. If it's really hurt, you can still give each other pleasure without penetration for example, by mutual masturbation. It doesn't mean that since you already a parents, you're mean focus is to your babies and make time to relax together because you're more likely to make love when your minds are on each other rather than other things.
About getting pregnant, Rei can get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of a baby which means starting yesterday, even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again but well I advise to wait until her recuperation period is finished to avoid complications.
Tae : Thank you Doc Annie
Annie : You're welcome, how about you Rei, any questions?
Rei : No questions for now Doc Annie.
Annie : I see, then take care and I will always call you every weekend for your updates.
Rei : Yes Doc Annie and thank you once again (then Annie leave right away since she still have rounds to do so), which of them you're going to carry Dear?
Tae : Our little boy Hon
Rei : Don't tell me it's because our little boy got my looks?
Tae : (just smile and nodded then hug his wife) are you alright handling our babies alone when I'm out of town?
Rei : I'm not alone Tae, I already have you in my heart and also Dad and Mom is with me, so I will be alright.
Tae : (just sighing and hug Rei)
Rei : (feel his worries and said to him frankly) don't ever think about disclosing our relationship rushly just to be with me publicly Dear and I'm here waiting until you are ready to disclose our relationship (turning her body toward him and caressing his face). I'm already satisfied that you are my husband and the father of our kids, okay?
Tae : (nodded while slowly touching her hand from his face and closing their distance until their lips almost touch)
Mei : (covered Lynel eyes when they entered the room since they didn't heard any voices from them and as a married, she already sense something fishy so she covered the little girl eyes and said in Sean) I really got it right but continue, continue guys I already covered the little girl eyes.
Rei : (giving only a peck to Tae and then replied to her sister) woah, what a perfect timing Mei? But sorry we're not making out.
Mei : Tsk, tsk but let's go. 'As if you don't also have perfect timing when I still dated My En'