Coming home from hospital with a new baby is ever so exciting but it can also be very daunting. I couldn’t wait to finally be reunited as a family after spending a night in the hospital with only my new baby. I was so relieved to be home but then it didn’t take long for the worry to hit. The worry of am I doing the right thing? Is that normal? Should my baby be doing this? Is she eating and sleeping enough? At first it felt like all my baby did was sleep and wake up just enough to have a bottle and then she was back to sleep again. At first when your newborn is sleeping it is really important to get some sleep and rest yourself, having a baby is a big change and the next few months aren’t going to be easy.
One thing to really remember is that every baby is different, no two babies are the same. In the first week at home it can get busy and overwhelming with people wanting to come and visit to see the new little arrival, but remember this is your time as a family and time for yourself to heal. You can say no to visitors, they will understand after all you have just given birth. When I first came home I wanted so many people to come and visit that I just had day after day with plans and in the end it got too much and I wasn’t healing myself and was utterly exhausted. A couple of early nights and lazy days and I felt so much better.
The first couple of weeks is time for you and your baby to get to know each other, you’ll be learning how much they eat, sleep and love to cuddle! It won’t take long before your newborn isn’t a newborn any more, so make sure you cherish all those times with your little one because even with my little one just three months old I’m already thinking where did that time go? Everything your baby does in the first few months is so precious and any worries you had at first will soon disappear. The first time they smile, the first time they look at you and the first time you hear them giggle. The first bath you give your new baby could be a challenge as your little one might not like the water, but you could get lucky like me and have a baby that absolutely loves baths and it is one of the best things to watch.
Remember not to panic, you’ll know if something was really wrong and there are always healthcare professionals who are there to help. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, nothing is silly or too small not to bother. If it’s on your mind then find an answer. Most importantly though, you’ve carried this baby for nine months, you’ve prepared for this and all you’re doing now is carrying on looking after them, just in the real world and not inside of you.
