Newborn at home: caring for the baby in the first week.

The first days of a newborn at home after the maternity hospital are the hardest for both the baby and the parents. Often mothers are even afraid to be discharged, because they are often not confident that they will be able to cope with caring for the baby. The little man seems completely fragile and defenseless. Household members are no less excited, because the house needs to be prepared for a new family member. However, all worries can be removed if you familiarize yourself with detailed instructions about how to behave.

Now let's look at this in more detail.

How to prepare an apartment for the arrival of a baby?

Cleanliness in the house is a guarantee of the child’s health, and therefore, before the baby arrives, it is necessary to restore order. It is not necessary to ensure complete sterility, but the floor must be washed, the crib must be treated with a soft detergent, linen – washed with baby powder.

Dust collectors (various souvenirs and Stuffed Toys), which can become a source of allergies. The room should be well ventilated. You also need to equip the room with the following items:

A night light, which is needed for feeding a baby at night;
Chest of drawers for children's things;
You need to be concerned not only with the quality of the crib, but also with the safety and comfort of the mattress for the child. How to choose a crib set for a newborn;
In the first months, you need to often change diapers and swaddle the baby, and therefore you need to prepare a special place for this. If you don’t have enough money for a special table, you can adapt an old chest of drawers or table for changing. A soft blanket and oilcloth are placed on top of it. On the right side of the changing table you need to place all the baby care products: powder, cotton pads, baby cream. The whole list for the first time. On the left you can put diapers and onesies. - a subject of controversy between parents and pediatricians, you can learn about this from a separate article;
If the air in your apartment is dry, you need to buy a humidifier. In a dry microclimate, the baby's mucous membrane dries out and a runny nose occurs, which is why it is so important to monitor humidity levels. To do this, you can carry out daily wet cleaning and place a bucket of water near the battery. However, the most reliable tool is a special humidifier.

Dust collectors should not be placed near the crib.

It is better to prepare the area for resting and changing the baby in advance. You will also need to purchase all the things that you will need at first: vests, diapers, nappies, creams.

What to do in the first days of a newborn baby’s life at home after the maternity hospital?

What to do in the first days of a newborn at home? The most important thing is not to do anything unnecessary. The baby should be well rested. You need to subdue him and then put him to bed. There is no need to immediately organize swimming and walking. The baby, immediately after arriving from the hospital, needs only food and rest. Therefore, the number of guests should be reduced to a minimum.

What does a baby need - basic care

A newborn has a number of needs, each of which must be taken into account:

Nutrition. You need to feed your baby at least once every 3 hours. If sucking reflexes are observed, this indicates that the baby wants to eat;
Dream. Newborns sleep in bursts of 2-3 hours. The same period constitutes the time of wakefulness. For good sleep you need to ensure silence and darkness. Many pediatricians and psychologists are convinced of the beneficial effects co-sleeping parents with child. The baby feels the presence of loved ones, which makes his rest complete.

Co-sleeping is a practical solution for breastfeeding. The mother will not have to jump up to the child often, because he is very close. If there are any signs of his concern, you can quickly respond.

Temperature. The best temperature for a baby is 18-19 degrees. Many parents make the mistake of putting “a hundred” blouses and vests on their children. This is the wrong approach, which can lead to overheating and diaper rash;
Psychological needs. Physical contact is required for the baby to feel calm. Touching, hugging, kissing - all this is extremely important.

A little man should constantly feel the presence of caring parents nearby. You need to talk to him. Don't be afraid of too much attention.

How to manage everything?

Maintaining a constant frequency, caring for a newborn in the first days at home - all this requires enormous reserves of strength. The load can be lightened if you properly distribute responsibilities and plan time. Recommendations will help with this:

After the birth of a baby, many people want to congratulate the new parents. However, telephone conversations should be kept to a minimum. It is advisable to warn your loved ones so that they do not call themselves, but send messages. This way, the sound of the phone will not frighten the baby or disturb the mother's sleep;
Each item should have its own place. You should select a special table where all the necessary little things will be stored. This will save time searching for the right thing and prevent unnecessary worry;
All purchases must be made at one time. It’s better to go to the supermarket, where there is everything you need;
It is necessary to distribute responsibilities and strictly adhere to them. For example, dad may be responsible for purchasing supplies and bathing the baby, while mom may be responsible for breastfeeding and cleaning. This measure will ensure coordination of all actions, prevent conflicts, and provide an even load. If you still don’t have enough hands, you can turn to relatives.

It is important for mothers to entrust the baby to fathers, because this is beneficial for all parties. The child will get used to his father from the very first days, and the man will more successfully adapt to his new role.

Both parents need to discuss all the significant points before going to the maternity hospital, so as not to deal with all the difficulties in a hurry. It is advisable to prepare a children's room or corner where the newborn will be accommodated. Where to put soft toys and other gifts from loved ones? For now, it’s easier to put them away in cellophane or in factory packaging until the baby grows up. All clothing and personal care products should be purchased in advance. After the baby arrives, there may not be time left for all this.

Additional information on how to properly care for children at home in the first days of their life in the video:

What shouldn't you worry about? In the first days, you should not plan walks or receiving guests. Maximum comfort should be provided so that the child can quickly adapt to the new world. Mental preparation in advance and understanding what to expect will help you cope with difficulties.

The long term has come this moment- You became parents. With the birth of a child, young parents have a lot of questions related to child care. infant. This article is devoted to the basic rules of caring for infants.

The main condition for proper care of an infant is cleanliness. This means that not only the child must be clean, but also everything that surrounds him must be kept in perfectly clean condition: diapers, clothes, bedding, toys. In addition, the room in which the child lives must be cleaned daily; there must be mosquito nets on the windows in the summer to prevent flies and other insects from entering the room, as well as various microbes contained in dust from entering his body, thereby prevent the development various diseases. Various microorganisms can enter a child’s body through the mouth, a pacifier, food, hastily washed dishes, etc. In addition, it is especially important not to let older children near the child, not to allow them to kiss the child on the face, especially the lips, to bend low over him, or to breathe on him, since when breathing people release a large number of microbes with the air, which, if they enter the child’s body, can cause various diseases arise.

Try to keep not only your hands and clothes clean, but also your family members. Do not allow your child to enter his room wearing dirty, dusty clothes. Before approaching or picking up a child, everyone, including the mother, should wash their hands thoroughly with soap. In addition, to avoid injury to the child, be sure to monitor the length of your fingernails; they should be cut short.

When breastfeeding, you need to keep your nipples clean. It is recommended to place sterile cloths on them daily. And also before each feeding, it is imperative to wash the nipples with warm boiled water. This procedure prevents breast diseases and also prevents harmful microorganisms from entering the child’s mouth during feeding.

Tips for cleaning a room infant.
As a rule, the room for the child and mother is prepared in advance. They remove unnecessary items and prepare a corner for the child - a crib, a changing table, a shelf or cabinet for linen, a shelf for care items, toys. Usually the crib and all the necessary attributes are placed in the brightest part of the room. Every day it is necessary to do a wet cleaning in this room; all cabinets and furniture should also be wiped with a damp cloth. You should not cover the windows with thick curtains; as much sunlight as possible should enter the room. In addition, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room. This must be done daily, winter period- every 3-4 hours for 10-15 minutes.

Infant care items.
Every mother should have the following items in her arsenal for caring for her infant: a sterile bandage, cotton wool, a solution of potassium permanganate, baby powder, baby oil to lubricate the folds of the skin (instead, you can use regular vegetable oil, boiled and cooled, which is poured into a sterilized bottle ), baby soap, a children's hair brush, scissors, a glass, a teaspoon, a water thermometer, a thermometer for measuring body temperature, a rubber heating pad, a rubber bulb. All these baby care attributes must be at hand, that is, stored in a specially designated place. In addition, they should always be covered with a sterile diaper. It is best to purchase cotton wool in the form of rolled lumps. If you can’t find one, you can roll it into lumps yourself. To do this, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, roll the balls and place them in a sterilized and dried container with a lid.

Washing an infant.
A child's vision must be protected from birth. Handle flash and other equipment very carefully. Do not expose your child's eyes to changes in lighting. At night, it is best to use soft, diffused light from a table lamp or floor lamp. Before morning feeding, it is necessary to wash the baby. To do this, you need to take a cotton ball, moisten it in boiled water at room temperature and gently wipe the child’s face. Then you also carefully need to dry the baby’s face with a clean napkin or handkerchief. By the way, you can wash your child’s face with your hand, after washing it with soap. If a child's eyes fester, they must be washed with a solution of boric acid (1/2 tsp per glass of warm boiled water) or potassium permanganate (1-2 drops of a strong solution of potassium permanganate diluted in boiled water until pale pink). It is necessary to rinse the eyes separately with cotton balls in the direction from the outer edge of the eye to the nose. Each eye must be wiped with a clean piece of cotton wool, the healthy eye being wiped first, and then the sick one. After rinsing, the eyes are also dried with separate dry cotton pieces.

It is very important that the child learns to breathe correctly through his nose from the very beginning. Since the nasal passages of infants are very small, blockage (mucus, crusting) can make breathing difficult and noisy. The baby begins to sniffle, sucks poorly, becomes restless, and, as a result, sleeps poorly. In order to clear your baby's nose, you must first drop one drop of warm boiled vegetable oil into each nostril. The oil helps soften the crusts and make them easier to remove. The crusts should be removed with a cotton wool strip previously soaked in boiled water. vegetable oil. When you have a cold or runny nose, the nasal mucosa swells significantly, which also makes breathing difficult. In this case, it is necessary to regularly clean the nasal passages with thin cotton swabs and instill drops prescribed by the pediatrician.

Earwax removal from a child's ears is a common natural process in which all microorganisms and dust particles are removed from the ear. To prevent the formation of wax plugs, it is necessary to remove excess wax from outside the ear canal with a clean cloth so as not to injure the eardrum. cotton swab. The release of wax can be intense when swimming or when particles of dust or insects enter the ear. However, sometimes it can be the cause of inflammation of the middle ear. Under no circumstances should you remove wax plugs from an infant’s ear yourself or treat them with any drops. At home, you can put the child on a warm heating pad for 10-15 minutes with one ear, then the other. This procedure is in a good way cleansing the ears, as well as excellent prevention of otitis media. It is also necessary to wash your child's ears with great care, since you can pour water into the ear canal.

To avoid damage to the oral mucosa, as well as the introduction of germs, it is not recommended to wipe the child’s mouth, as this can damage the delicate oral mucosa and introduce germs. In addition, it is necessary to wash not only your hands and face every day, but also wash your child with warm water (skin folds of the groin area, genitals and buttocks). It is necessary to wash the child with clean hands from front to back to avoid particles of feces getting into the genitals. It is very convenient to do this under running water. Then you need to dry the baby's skin with a soft towel. Next, all folds on the baby’s body (between the buttocks, behind the ears, armpits, on the neck, in the groin) must either be treated with special oil or talcum powder. The child should be washed after each bowel movement.

Concerning umbilical wound child, then it must be treated once a day, preferably after an evening bath. To do this, you will need a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, with which you need to wash off the bloody crusts, and then lubricate the wound with a 5% solution of potassium permanganate. As a rule, the umbilical wound heals on the twentieth day of the child’s life. If during this time light or bloody discharge appears from the wound, which has bad smell or greenish, yellowish color, and the skin around it is red and swollen - these are signs of infection. In this case, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Infants' nails grow very quickly, so they need to be trimmed once a week to prevent the child from scratching himself. For your child, you need to purchase special small scissors with blunt ends for cutting nails. Before use, they must be washed with hot water and soap and dried with a clean towel. Do not cut your child's nails too short, as this may cause him pain. In case of accidental injury, it is necessary to apply a sterile bandage to the wound and hold it for a while until the blood stops flowing.

There are cases when yellow or translucent scales form on the scalp of an infant as a result of excessive secretion of the skin glands. If they are small in number and similar to dandruff, they can be brushed off with a soft brush. But crusts may form, which can greatly bother the child due to itching. Such crusts must be removed, for which every day 2-3 hours before bathing, the baby’s head must be thickly lubricated with sunflower oil. And after bathing, you need to comb out such crusts with a fine-toothed comb. This comb should only be used for the child's needs. Before use, be sure to wash the comb with hot water and soap, wipe it with a dry, clean towel and comb a small amount of cotton wool onto it. After the procedure, the cotton wool is removed, and the combed crusts are removed along with it.

In addition, so-called diaper rash may occur on the baby’s skin. The cause of their occurrence, as a rule, is excess moisture in the sensitive skin, which appears when using diapers and nappies, lack of fresh air and constant friction. You can prevent the appearance of diaper rash in a child if you follow several rules: change diapers often, wash baby clothes thoroughly, thoroughly and regularly wash and dry the baby. In addition, it is very important to allow the baby’s skin to breathe, for which purpose, let the baby lie down or sleep with his bottom open for 10 minutes every day. If diaper rash does appear, you need to use baby powder or a protective ointment that contains zinc oxide.

Bathing an infant.
A newborn can be bathed for the first time a day after the umbilical wound has healed. As a rule, the first bathing occurs with the permission of the local doctor. For the first 6 months, an infant must be bathed daily, and after 6 months - every other day. It is best to bathe your baby before the last feeding. This must be done in a special bath and for no more than 5-7 minutes. Before bathing, be sure to wash the baby’s bath with soap and pour boiling water over it. It is best to prepare everything you need for swimming in advance, and clean linen should also be prepared. During the cold period, before putting the underwear on the child, it is necessary to warm it up (wrapped in a clean diaper, the underwear is placed on the stove, etc.). Before bathing the baby, mom or dad needs to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and cut their nails, that is, it is necessary to create all the conditions so as not to accidentally harm the baby.

Before pouring water into the bath, you need to put a clean diaper folded in half on the bottom. The bathroom or room where you bathe your baby should not be too hot (20-22 ºС). The water temperature should be 36.5 ºС - 37 ºС, and the level should not be more than 10-15 cm, so that the upper chest and head of the baby are on the surface of the water. It is necessary to lower the child into the water slowly, starting with the legs, then the torso. The head is located on the elbow of an adult, the fingers of the same hand support the child under the knees. Right hand lightly soap the scalp, neck, then the torso and limbs. If a rash appears on the skin of an infant, it is recommended to make a manganese bath, for which you need to prepare a strong solution of potassium manganese in a separate container, and then add it to the bath with water until the color turns pink.

You should not rub the baby's skin, as this can damage the skin; you must wash all the natural folds of the baby's skin with care. It is necessary to rinse the child with warm boiled water from a jug, turning it back up, and the temperature of the water in the jug should be 1 ºC lower than in the bath. Then you need to wrap the baby in a towel and dry it. This procedure must be done carefully by applying a soft towel to the body. Then you need to carefully lubricate all the folds on the baby’s body with baby cream or oil, put on clean underwear and put him in the crib. A child who can sit (6 months) can be bathed while sitting, giving him the opportunity to play with rubber or plastic toys.

Dressing an infant.
During the first few months of a child’s life, they mainly use diapers, vests and blouses, as well as diapers. In general, in the first month of a child’s life, I would recommend using gauze diapers at home, and wearing diapers for walks, which are selected depending on the age and weight of the baby. Gauze diapers absorb urine and feces quite well, while allowing the baby’s skin to “breathe” and prevent diaper rash. Regular use of diapers in the first month of a baby's life can lead to diaper rash.

Since it is necessary to change diapers very often in the first month, you need to have at least 10 of them, the same number of gauze diapers, as well as 3-4 warm diapers. You should not buy too many vests and blouses, since the baby will grow out of them very quickly; 3-4 from thin fabric and 3-4 from flannel or knitwear will be enough.

Nowadays it is widely believed that a newborn baby does not need to be swaddled. I don't agree with this. I believe that swaddling is necessary for the first month, since unconscious movements of the arms and legs will interfere with the baby's ability to sleep peacefully, may frighten him, and also to prevent the baby from scratching himself. Of course, to avoid this, there are now special undershirts with sleeves on sale that prevent scratching. You should not wrap your child up too much, as this causes the child to become sensitive to any cooling and reduces the body’s resistance to colds. When putting a newborn to bed, he must put a thin cap on his head.

When your baby turns 2 months old, you can purchase several pairs of onesies that are a good substitute for diapers. They allow the child to move his legs freely and not get cold. If the room is cold, warm knitted shoes are put on your feet. At the age of 8-9 months, when the child stands on his feet and walks on the crib, on the floor, he needs to purchase pants that only reach the foot in length.

Infant's bed.
As mentioned above, the child must have a separate crib, for which it is necessary to purchase a special orthopedic mattress. You should not put your newborn to bed with you in the same bed or with other, older children. As a rule, newborns are put to sleep without pillows, but you can fold the diaper in half and place it under the baby’s head. An oilcloth with ribbons sewn to it is placed on top of the mattress. The oilcloth is pulled tightly so that wrinkles do not form, and the ribbons are tied under the mattress. A sheet is placed on top of the oilcloth. The baby's crib and bedding must be shaken out daily and ventilated once a week for several hours.

Washing children's clothes.
Diapers, like all baby's underwear, must be kept perfectly clean. Under no circumstances should diapers be dried without first washing them. Dirty diapers spread the smell of urine and appear on them. yellow spots, and they also cause skin irritation in the child. The child's linen and diapers must be washed using special means for washing children's clothes. After washing and thoroughly rinsing the laundry, it must be doused with boiling water, then dried and ironed with a hot iron.

Sleep of an infant.
Sleep plays a huge role in the life of an infant. It is necessary for him, like air. The child must sleep during the day. During the first month, an infant should sleep a lot (20 hours), from feeding to feeding. Subsequently, the child’s routine changes, he begins to be more awake. At 2-3 months, the child sleeps before each feeding for 1.5-2 hours, from 3 to 10 months - 3 times a day and from 10 months to 1.5 years - 2 times a day. From the age of two months, it is necessary to teach the child to always fall asleep in certain time. If a child eats properly, is regularly exposed to fresh air, and is kept clean, he will always fall asleep quickly and sleep peacefully. An infant falls asleep better in the fresh air, so during the day it is best to put him to sleep outside. You should not put your child to bed in silence and complete darkness, but if the light is too bright and there is too much noise, the child will also not sleep peacefully, and his nervous system will not rest. It is necessary to teach the child to sleep at the same time, and for this it is also necessary to follow a diet, constantly ventilate the room, and create a favorable, calm environment conducive to sleep. Bathing also has a beneficial effect on the child, after which the baby sleeps for more than 5 hours without waking up.

Baby walk.
A child, regardless of age, should regularly be in the fresh air, whether it is a warm or cold season. Fresh air and sunlight help strengthen the child’s body and prevent the occurrence of diseases such as rickets. Daily exposure to fresh air improves appetite and strengthens the child’s nervous system, and improves sleep. In the winter, if there is no wind, you can walk with a baby even at a temperature of -10-15 degrees.

As a rule, the first exit to the street (15-20 minutes) is carried out with the permission of the pediatrician and at two weeks of age. Then the time spent on the street is extended to 1.5 - 3 hours. In winter, it is necessary to walk twice a day for two hours; in summer, if possible, the child should be constantly in the fresh air.

Child's world

A newborn baby perceives the world around him as a stream of rapidly changing sensations. All feelings, sounds, images are unfamiliar to him and are not interconnected. The baby has no sense of time, sensation and cannot separate himself from the world around him. His system of thinking lacks cause and effect. Events happen as if on their own, independently of each other. The child feels hungry and hears himself cry. Is this cry born within his being or comes from somewhere outside? Maybe both the crying and the feeling of hunger disappear because mom came? The child does not know the answer and cannot ask a question... Since frustration causes crying, and crying is followed by consolation, a connection between these events is gradually built in the child's mind. He sees you at his crib and already feels that a feeling of comfort and peace will come. After some time, the baby will begin to intuitively feel safe, knowing that his desires will be satisfied. As your child's trust in you increases, your confidence in your abilities increases. You are already able to correctly assess his inclinations, you know his strengths, you can adapt to the pace of the baby’s development and satisfy his needs. You now become the most important person in his life who understands his needs and character.

During the first days and weeks, the bond of love between you and your baby grows stronger. This warm and tender relationship will be his first lesson in love. Throughout his life, he will draw energy from them and build relationships with the outside world on their basis.

A newborn baby is not able to eat or move independently, but he is far from helpless. He enters the world with a fairly large set of behavior patterns based on unconditioned reflexes. Most of them are vital for the baby. For example, if a newborn baby is stroked on the cheek, he turns his head and looks for the pacifier with his lips. If you put the pacifier in your mouth, your baby will automatically start sucking on it. Another set of reflexes protects the baby from physical harm. If your baby covers his nose and mouth, he will turn his head from side to side. When any object comes close to his face, he automatically blinks his eyes. Some reflexes of a newborn are not of vital importance, but it is by them that the level of development of the child can be determined. While examining a newly born baby, the pediatrician holds him in different positions, suddenly makes loud sounds, and runs his finger over the baby’s foot. By how the child reacts to these and other actions, the doctor is convinced that the newborn’s reflexes are normal and the nervous system is in order.. Some children are surprisingly lethargic and passive. Lying on their stomach or back, they remain almost motionless until they are lifted and shifted. Others, on the contrary, show noticeable activity. If such a child is placed face down in a crib, he will slowly but persistently move towards the head of the crib until he hits the very corner. Very active children may reflexively roll over from their stomach to their back.

Another important difference in newborns is the level of muscle tone. Some children look very tense: their knees are constantly bent, their arms are tightly pressed to their body, their fingers are tightly clenched into fists. Others are more relaxed, the muscle tone of their limbs is not so strong.

A child is born with an innate repertoire of reactions that help him adapt to the world around him. He squints his eyes when a bright light comes on or an object comes close to his face. Over a short distance, he can follow with his gaze a moving object or a human face. By running your fingertips or a piece of soft silk fabric over your body, you can bring it into a state of calm wakefulness. It is especially pleasant for the baby to feel the touch of human skin. Many mothers who breastfeed their children say that the baby begins to suck more actively if his hand lies on the mother's chest.

The third difference between newborns is the degree of development of their sensory-motor system. Some children, especially young ones or those born prematurely, are very easily disturbed. At any, even the most insignificant noise, they shudder with their entire being, and their arms and legs begin to move erratically. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, a shiver runs through their body. Other babies look well developed from birth. They seem to know how to put their hand in or near their mouth and often do this to calm themselves down. When they move their legs, their movements are orderly and rhythmic.

The period of infancy is the time when both the child and parents adapt to each other. Caring for a baby forces adults to organize their daily routine in a new way. The newborn adapts both physically and psychologically to life outside the mother's body. An integral part of this process is the child’s self-regulation. He learns to independently regulate the degree of his activity, so as to smoothly transition from sleep to wakefulness and vice versa. In the first weeks after the birth of your baby, you will spend a lot of energy trying to help your baby master these transitional states. A wide-awake child reacts to sounds by looking intently at the faces of those around him, and seems to have an attentive and intelligent gaze. At such moments, the baby’s energy is aimed at perceiving information, and then the parents have the opportunity to study and communicate him. However, too intense exercise can tire your child out. The newborn cannot get out of the state of excitement on his own. Therefore, it is especially important that parents feel in time that the baby needs rest. If his mouth wrinkles, his fists clench and he nervously moves his legs, then it’s time to rest. Take your child for a ride in the car. With, sounds that imitate a heartbeat, etc. Others respond better to quiet conversation, monotonous singing or a quiet whisper. There are also children who like music - lullabies, recordings of classical works, melodies from music boxes. So far we have talked about how caring and loving parents help newborns adapt to life outside the womb. In turn, the child also influences the lives of adults. He helps them adapt to their new role as parents. With the birth of a child, they acquire a new social status, and a very close relationship is built between them and the baby.. Those parents who have their first child often associate the child’s irritability with the fact that they are inexperienced and do not know how to handle him correctly. As soon as they understand that the baby’s increased excitability depends on the internal physiological processes occurring in his body, they will regain self-confidence. This will help them get through the challenges that await them in the first weeks of a child's life. Through trial and error, parents gain experience and find their own way to calm their baby - by swaddling, vigorously rocking, or simply giving him the opportunity to scream for a while until he falls asleep. It is very important that parents understand from the very beginning that the difficulties experienced by the child in the first year of life are in no way related to the characteristics of his behavior and character in the future.

During the first month of a baby's life, most parents sometimes experience negative emotions. A young mother suffering from constant crying, childbirth and sleepless nights may become depressed or irritable towards other family members. The father, despite his proud smile, may sometimes feel that the baby not only limits his freedom, but also deprives his wife of attention and care. As children get older, they sleep longer and parents adapt to different daily routines. After the first difficult period, when the relationship between parents and baby is just developing, family members will be able to fully reward each other with the joy of communication.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEWBORN

The most difficult task facing a newborn child during the first month of his life is to adapt to conditions outside the mother's body. Most of the time the baby sleeps. Having woken up, he begins to behave in accordance with his internal physiological state. Periods of active wakefulness, when the child is ready to perceive new information, are rare and short-lived. Therefore, you should not plan activities with your newborn in advance, just try to use the opportunity. This opportunity appears when the child is full and in a good mood. Remember that children have different thresholds for excitability, and if you overtire your baby, he may begin to worry, scream and cry.

Practical advice He needs human warmth, and therefore he loves to be held. Try to find out how your baby feels about this. Some babies become nervous and irritable when held for too long. It happens that a fussy baby calms down if he is placed in a comfortable children's backpack. However, if the baby is very rarely held, he may become lethargic and apathetic. Change baby's position When your child is awake, try to vary his positions. Let him lie on his stomach for a while, then on his back or side. Being in different positions, the baby will learn to move his arms and legs. Children's calendar Hang a calendar and pencil near the changing table or dressing table. You can record each new achievement of your child in a separate column. Enjoy the time you spend with your baby Laugh and have fun with your child. Sometimes he seems to be able to express his joy. Don't be afraid to spoil your child Try to quickly fulfill his wishes. If you give your baby enough attention when he needs it, he won't bother you again. Handle your baby with care When returning home from the hospital, bring your newborn in a comfortable, reliable car.

Everyday affairs

Feeding time Save good mood Regardless of whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, try to do it in a way that makes both your baby and you feel calm and comfortable. Remember that your baby knows better than you when he is full, so don't try to force him to eat a little more. Avoid coercion so as not to lose the child's trust. Reach out and touch While your baby is eating, gently stroke his head, shoulders and fingers, then he will associate feeding with your gentle touches. Some children love to listen to singing while eating, while others, when they hear their mother’s voice, stop sucking. If your baby is easily distracted, hold off on singing until after meals or while your baby is burping. Bathing First baths Bathe your baby in a baby bath. (Ask your doctor before giving your baby your first bath.) While bathing, hum softly while rubbing gently with a soft sponge or cloth. If your baby is slipping and needs soft bedding, place a towel in the bottom of the tub. Communication through touch After swimming, it is good to have a massage. Using baby cream or vegetable oil, gently massage your baby's shoulders, arms, legs, feet, back, stomach and buttocks. Keep doing this as long as your child is in a good mood. Swaddling/dressing Kisses on the tummy When changing your baby's diapers, gently kiss his tummy, fingers and toes. These gentle touches help your baby become aware of his body parts. At the same time, he not only feels his body, but also feels your love. Undress the child Don't wrap your baby up. If the room is 20-25 degrees, he will feel good in a light shirt and diaper. Children overheat, sweat and feel discomfort if they are dressed too warmly. Time relax Turn on the radio for your child When putting your baby in the crib, turn on the radio, tape recorder, or start a music box. Quiet music will calm him down. Record the noise of the washing machine on tape. Instead of buying an expensive toy that makes sounds, record the noise of your dishwasher or washing machine on tape. The monotonous hum that the child hears will help him calm down and fall asleep. Give your baby a musical toy If from the very early age in the child's mind, associate sleep time with a soft musical toy, it will become an integral element of this process. As they get older, some babies struggle when being put in their crib, and this toy will help them calm down and fall asleep. Use a pacifier Give your baby a pacifier before bed. Children who are accustomed to a pacifier from an early age are able to fall asleep on their own. If your baby refuses the pacifier, you can only put it in his mouth for a few minutes at first until he gets used to it. If your child continues to persist, find another way. Walking in a stroller If the weather permits, take your child for a walk, pushing him in a stroller. Constant movement will help him fall asleep. A game of shadows Children often wake up at night. Leave the night lamp burning - soft light will allow the child to observe the bizarre outlines of surrounding objects. Over the last few months of utero, the baby has become accustomed to sleeping in close quarters. Therefore, he will feel good if he is swaddled or covered with pillows. Many stores sell hanging hammocks that can be attached inside a regular crib. Some of them are equipped with a special device that creates the illusion of the mother's heartbeat in the child. The rhythmic sounds remind the baby of those he heard while in the womb; this calms him down and he falls asleep.

The first month of a baby’s life is magical and hectic at the same time. In the first month of a newborn’s life, it is necessary to learn how to feed, put to sleep and understand its constant requirements. And the beginning of a newborn’s life is especially densely saturated with them.

The first days of a newborn are quite simple. All that really matters to him is to eat every few hours, sleep well and often, have a dry diaper, and get lots of love. But for you, as a new parent, caring for a new baby can seem much more difficult. Therefore, focus only on the main points and basic needs of the child.

Child development 1 month of life

Your newborn does little more than eat, sleep, and cry. You will discover how your baby reacts to things like light, noise, and touch. You will see that your senses are working hard.

Vision in the first month of a child’s life

Your baby sees things best at a distance of 20 - 25 cm. This is the ideal distance for looking closely into the eyes of mom or dad.

Their eyes are especially sensitive to bright light, so babies are more likely to open their eyes in low light.

Don't worry if your child sometimes squints or rolls his eyes. This is normal until your child's vision improves and the eye muscles become stronger.

Let your child look at many attractive things. People's faces, contrasting patterns, bright colors, movement is what newborns enjoy most. Black and white photographs or toys will keep your child interested longer than objects or paintings with many similar colors.

The child must be able to follow slow movements of a face or object.

What can a baby hear before 1 month?

The child heard sounds while still in the womb. The mother's heartbeat, the gurgling of her digestive system, and even the sounds of her voice are part of the baby's world before birth.

When your baby is born, the sounds of the world around you are loud and clear. A child may be startled by the unexpected barking of a nearby dog or calmed by the gentle whirring of a hairdryer.

Pay attention to how the newborn reacts to the voice. The voices of people, especially parents, are a child’s favorite “music.” If your baby is crying in the cradle, see how quickly your approaching voice calms him down.

Taste and olfactory sensations of a newborn in the first month

Babies have a sense of taste and smell and will be attracted to sweet tastes rather than bitter ones. For example, a newborn will prefer to suckle on a bottle of sweetened water, but will turn away or cry if given something bitter or sour to taste. Likewise, newborns will be drawn to smells they prefer and will turn away from smells they dislike.

Research has shown that mom's diet affects taste. These first aromas will help shape taste preferences later. For example, a child whose mother ate spicy foods while breastfeeding will most likely be favorable towards spicy foods.

Touch is important for a newborn. With every touch, the newborn learns about life and its surroundings.

In the womb, babies are kept warm and protected, but after birth they feel cold, heat, and hard seams of clothing for the first time.

Make sure your newborn finds the outside world a calming place. Provide plenty of comfortable clothing and soft blankets, gentle kisses, caresses, and comforting hugs.

From the moment they are born, babies begin to respond to the world around them. Their reactions to their mother's hugs or loud noise are examples of normal child development.

Doctors use these factors to determine whether development is progressing as expected. There is a wide range of what is considered normal, so some children acquire skills earlier or later than others.

What should a baby be able to do at 1 month of age?

Newborn behavior

Turns head towards parents' voice or other sounds.
Cries to communicate the need to be held or fed, changed diapers or put to bed.
Stops crying when his desire is satisfied (the child was picked up, fed or put to bed).

Motor and physical development of a child in the first month

From the very beginning, the child has a set of reflexes designed to protect him and provide the necessary help, even if parental instincts have not yet taken effect.

These early reflexes include the searching reflex, which helps locate the breast or feeding bottle, the sucking reflex (helps with eating), the grasping reflex (the one that causes your finger to clench when placed in your baby's palm), and the Moro reflex (a nervous response that he experiences when he is scared).

You can try testing your child's reflexes, but remember that your results may vary and will likely be less reliable than a doctor's test.

Emotional and social development of a child up to 1 month of life

calms down from the voice and touch of the parents;
can concentrate briefly.

Cognitive skills (thinking and learning)

Looks at faces.
Watches the parents' facial expressions.

Caring for a newborn in the first month of life

If you haven't spent much time around newborns, their fragility can be daunting.

Rules for caring for a child in the first month of life

Be sure to wash your hands before handling your baby. Newborns do not yet have strong immunity, so they are susceptible to infection. Make sure that everyone who interacts with the child has clean hands;
Be careful to support your baby's head and neck when carrying him or placing him in the crib;
Don't shake your newborn, whether in play or frustration. Severe shaking can cause intracranial bleeding and even death. If you need to wake up your baby, don't do it by shaking the baby. Instead, tickle your baby's feet or gently stroke his cheek;
You must make sure that the baby in the carrier, stroller or car seat is properly secured. Limit any activity that may be too rough or vigorous for your baby.

Remember that a 1 month old newborn is not prepared for rough play such as shaking or tossing.

How to care for a newborn in the first month?

Caring for a newborn at home includes feeding, changing a diaper, changing clothes, caring for the umbilical wound, trimming nails, bathing, and putting to bed.

Feeding a newborn

The mother decides whether to breastfeed or bottle her newborn in the first month.

You may be confused about how often to do this. It is generally recommended that this is done every time he seems hungry. The baby may give signs by crying, fist-sucking, or smacking sounds.

A newborn baby needs to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If you are breastfeeding, allow your baby to nurse for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast. If you are formula feeding, give about 60 - 90 milliliters at each feeding. For each individual baby, you can individually calculate the one-time volume of the mixture.

When feeding with formula, you can easily control the amount of food. But if you are breastfeeding a baby, it will be a little more difficult. If the baby seems satisfied, has about six wet diapers and bowel movements several times a day, the baby sleeps well and is gaining weight well, then there is no shortage of food.

Before changing a diaper, make sure that all supplies are within reach so that you do not have to leave your baby alone on the changing table.

To change a diaper you need:

clean diaper;
if the baby has a rash;
a container filled with warm water;
clean cloth, wet wipes or cotton pads.

After each bowel movement, or if the diaper is wet, place the baby on his back and remove the dirty diaper. With the help of water, cotton pads and napkins, gently wipe the child’s genitals. When changing a boy's diaper, do so with caution, as exposure to air can trigger urination.

When drying a girl, wipe the perineum from the labia to the butt to avoid urinary tract infections. Apply ointment to prevent and treat rashes.

Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after changing a diaper.

Diaper rash is a common problem. As a rule, it is red and raised. After a few days, it will disappear with bathing in warm water, using diaper cream and with a short amount of time spent without it. Most rashes occur because the skin is sensitive and irritated by a wet diaper.

To prevent or treat diaper rash, try a number of ways:

Change your baby's diaper frequently and as soon as possible after a bowel movement.
After washing, apply barrier cream. Zinc creams are preferable because they form a moisture barrier.
Leave your baby without a diaper for a while. This gives the skin the opportunity to take an air bath.

If the diaper rash continues for more than 3 days or seems to get worse, contact your doctor. The rash may be caused by a fungal infection that requires medication.

Cloth

You will change your baby many times a day.

Here Some tips to help make work more enjoyable - for the baby and for you:

start with comfortable clothes. Search elastic fabrics; wide necks; loose sleeves, cuffs and ankles; buttons, snaps or zippers on the front of the garment rather than on the back. Lace may look adorable on your little girl, but it can be scratchy or even tangle your little one's fingers, so save it for special occasions;
Attach a bib if your baby spits up regularly. After all, it is much easier to replace than clothes.

Caring for the umbilical wound and circumcision

Taking care of the umbilical wound is very important. Experts suggest wiping the area with alcohol until the umbilical cord dries and falls off.

The baby's navel area should not be immersed in water until the umbilical cord has fallen and the area has healed.

Consult your doctor if the navel area becomes red, smells unpleasant, or has discharge.

If a boy is circumcised, immediately after the procedure the head of the penis is covered with gauze coated with Vaseline to prevent the wound from sticking to the diaper. After changing the diaper, carefully wipe the head with clean warm water, then apply Vaseline. Redness or irritation of the penis should heal in a few days, but if the redness, swelling, or pus-filled blisters worsen, contact your doctor immediately.

Nails grow before the baby is born, so you can get a manicure in the first week of life. This procedure should be carried out every 2 - 3 days in the first month, until the nails harden and stop growing so quickly.

When trimming, hold your child's finger by pressing the fingertip down and away from the nail. Gently trim your nails, following the natural curve of the nail. Make sure you don't cut it too low or make sudden movements. While holding your tiny toes, trim your nails straight without rounding to the edges. Remember that toenails grow slower and therefore require less maintenance.

Although you won't feel very well, try not to worry if you hurt your baby. This happens to all well-meaning moms. Apply pressure to the wound with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth or gauze pad, and the bleeding will soon stop.

Bathing Basics

You should rub your baby with a soft sponge until the umbilical cord falls off and the belly button is completely healed (1 to 4 weeks).

Prepare the following items before bathing a child:

clean soft washcloth;
mild baby soap and unscented shampoo;
soft brush for scalp massage;
towel or blanket;
clean diaper;
fresh clothes.

Rubdown

To do this, choose a flat, safe surface in a warm room. Fill a sink, if nearby, or a bowl with warm water. Undress your child and wrap him in a towel. Wipe your baby's eyes with clean cotton balls soaked in water. Movements should be directed from internal corner to the external.

Use a separate cotton ball for each eye. Wipe your baby's ears and nose with a damp cloth. Then blot the cloth again and, using a little soap, gently wash your face and pat dry.

Then lather up some baby shampoo and gently wash your baby's hair. Try to wash off the foam as thoroughly as possible. Gently wipe the body with a damp cloth, especially paying attention to the armpit folds, areas around the neck, behind the ears and in the genital area. Then you need to dry your skin, put on a diaper and clothes.

When your baby is ready to take a bath, the first baths should be short.

An infant bath will be added to the accessories listed above. A baby bathtub is a plastic tub that fits in a large bathtub. This is the best size for babies and makes bathing easier.

Make sure that the water in the bath is no more than 5 - 7 cm deep. Undress your baby in a warm room, then immediately place him in water to prevent chills. Slowly lower the baby up to his chest into the bath, holding his head with one hand.

Wash your face and hair with a washcloth. Gently massage your scalp with your fingertips or a soft baby brush.

When you rinse shampoo or soap from your baby's head, place your hand on the forehead so that the foam flows to the sides and does not get soap into the eyes.

Gently wash the rest of your baby's body with water.

Throughout the bath, constantly pour water over the child so that he does not catch a cold. After bathing, immediately wrap your baby in a towel, making sure it covers his head.

A baby towel with a hood is great for keeping a freshly washed baby warm.

When bathing your child, never leave him alone. If you need to leave the bathroom, wrap your baby in a towel and take him with you.

Sleep Basics

A newborn who seems to need you every minute of the day actually sleeps for about 16 hours or more. Newborns typically sleep for 2 to 4 hours. Don't expect him to sleep through the night. Babies' digestive systems are so small that they need food every few hours, and babies must wake up if they haven't been fed within 4 hours.

Place your baby on their back or side to sleep to reduce the risk. Also, remove all furry items from your bed. quilts, sheepskin, soft toys and pillows to make sure that the baby does not get tangled in them and cannot suffocate.

Also, in order to prevent one-sided flattening of the head, be sure to alternate the position of the baby every night.

For many newborns, days and nights are “confused.” They tend to be awake at night and sleep more during the day. One way to help them is to keep nighttime agitation to a minimum. Keep the light low when using a night light. Talk and play with your baby throughout the day. When your baby wakes up during the day, try to keep him up a little longer by talking and playing.

Encouraging your newborn to learn

As parents care for their newborn, he learns to recognize touch, the sound of voices and the sight of faces.

In the first weeks you can start several simple, age-appropriate toys that develop hearing, vision and tactile sensations.

Rattles.
Kids toys.
Musical toys.
Unbreakable bed mirrors.

Try toys and mobiles with contrasting colors and patterns. Strong contrasts (such as red, white and black), curves and symmetry stimulate baby's vision development. As vision improves and children gain more control over their movements, they will increasingly interact with their environment.

While the focus these days is naturally on keeping baby healthy, it becomes much more difficult if mom doesn't stay healthy herself. So make your health a priority in the first month after giving birth. A short fifteen-minute nap will allow you to renew yourself a little.

Keep a supply of easily accessible but nutritious foods such as cheese sticks, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, fruits and prepared vegetables so that you can eat frequently. Know that your nutritional needs will be higher if you breastfeed.

Feeding

When the baby turns 1 month old, he needs to be fed at least 6 times a day. Try not to control feeding times too strictly; let your baby determine how much and how often he wants to eat.

Allow your 1 month old baby to sleep enough, be sensitive to his signals.

Even at this early stage, try to put your baby in his crib when he is tired but not yet asleep. Most young babies go to bed soon after feeding and their sleep window can be very short.

Behavior

You may see early smiles when your newborn is a month old. But most likely this will be due to their reflexes, and not to their reaction. Closer to six weeks, the child will give a true smile. Many children develop colic at the age of 1 month.

Motor skills of a child at 1 month

A 1 month old baby will be stronger than a newborn. He might be able to raise his head a short time when held upright or lying on the stomach. He might even be able to turn it from side to side. But you will still need to provide him with support.

Your baby also becomes more expressive and may start cooing when he sees family. Be sure to respond to his efforts to encourage these communication skills.

How to develop a baby at 1 month?

Ensure that your baby is placed on his tummy every day. This will help develop muscles in the neck and upper torso;
turn on music and try not to filter your child’s world. While it may be tempting to tiptoe around the house when your baby is sleeping, this will cause your baby to become sensitive to environmental noise. Babies who come into families with many young children do not respond to household noise and learn to adapt because they have to.

All children are unique and go through developmental milestones at their own pace. Recommendations for development simply show what the baby can realize. And if not at the moment, then in the very near future.

If you have questions or concerns, ask your doctor for advice possible solutions that will help you and your baby grow together.

A child, boy or girl, is a joy in the home. But the first days following discharge from the maternity hospital turn for young mothers, if not into a nightmare, then into a very difficult period of life, since it is difficult to immediately properly tackle the screaming small lump life.

Any woman has instinct and intuition that will help her control herself and get down to business. There are also experienced relatives who are ready to help take care of a boy or a girl. If not, the main points described below will explain what the mother needs to know about the child in the first days of life. You can also watch the video on the most important aspects baby care.

The appearance of a newborn in the house is a serious responsibility, most of which falls on the young mother. She vitally needs reliable and full information about baby care

Where does caring for a newborn begin?

From the baby’s hygiene, feeding and rest regime. Hygiene is an important factor in ensuring the health of a growing organism; it is especially important in the first days of its life. How to bathe a newborn correctly (more details in the article:)? At what age is a child allowed to have bath procedures?

The baby begins to bathe approximately 5 days after birth. This is due to the fact that in a large number of children by this time the umbilical stump (the remnant of the umbilical cord, pinched with a special clothespin-clamp) mummifies and falls off. The period for the stump to fall off ranges from 3 to 10 days. Normally, if the umbilical cord is thick and wide, the stump can last up to 2 weeks. So why not bathe the child all this time? Doctors recommend wet wipes.

When the umbilical remnant separates and until the umbilical wound heals, it is recommended to bathe the child in boiled water. There is another opinion: a number of experts believe that it is enough to add a weakly concentrated solution of manganese to tap water and carefully treat the umbilical wound after the procedure.

Decoctions and herbal extracts are not added until the umbilical wound heals. In the future, you can bathe the baby in herbal decoctions in agreement with the pediatrician (we recommend reading:).

What do you need for swimming?

Dear reader!
This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!
Caring for a baby is a troublesome, but enjoyable task. For a child, it is better to purchase a personal special baby bath (we recommend reading:). This is more hygienic, and there is no risk of frightening the baby by immersing himself in a large bath.

If parents are prepared with information, then bathing a baby can be a real pleasure for the whole family. The best reservoir would be a special baby bath
What else should you buy:
thermometer;
towel (soft);
manganese;
cotton buds;
hydrogen peroxide;
brilliant green (brilliant green) solution.

The water temperature should be between 36.6-37 C. A thermometer is used to determine it (we recommend reading:). If for some reason mom did not have time to purchase a thermometer, the water temperature can be determined by pouring a thin stream onto back side forearms closer to the elbow. The water temperature should be close to body temperature.
When bathing your baby, you should watch him carefully. The thermoregulation of a newborn is not as perfect as that of an adult. Therefore, it can easily become overcooled or overheated. If the child’s skin is pale and the nasolabial triangle is slightly blue, the baby is cold; if his skin turns reddish, he is overheating. In this case, you need to change the water temperature in the right direction.
Principles of rational breastfeeding
give the nipple to the baby correctly;
follow the rule - one feeding on one breast (if milk production is in sufficient quantities);
do not express or do it as necessary (in the case of lactostasis - stagnation of “distant” milk, which the child is not yet able to suck out in the first days of life, or prolonged absence of the mother);
take proper care of your breasts.

Not every child can take the breast correctly after birth, and not every mother can offer it correctly. Because of this, there can be both problems with feeding and damage to the mother’s nipples by the gums of the newborn.
When the baby opens his mouth wide, you need to present the nipple in such a way that it captures not only it, but also the adjacent tissue (the colored area around the nipple, called the alveolus). The alveolus should be almost completely in the child’s mouth and only slightly peek out from above. It's better to watch the whole process on video.
If there is enough milk, modern pediatrics recommends feeding the newborn on demand, especially in the first days after birth. Thus, the baby not only eats, but also communicates with the mother, and also stimulates the production of milk by the mammary glands.

Feeding a baby is an art in which there must be complete intuitive understanding with the baby. If something goes wrong, it’s better to watch videos of more experienced mommies, where they talk about their secrets
IN proper care includes nipple treatment (before and after feeding, you need to wash your breasts with clean water), using products prescribed by your doctor in case of cracks, and wearing a special bra made from natural materials.
The bra should not be tight, should hold the breasts well, and have wide straps. It is better to buy a special bra. This will allow you to quickly change the insert soaked in milk, treat the breast and feed the newborn.
The correct attitude towards the mammary glands and breast hygiene will allow mommy to maintain her beauty, including her shape, after stopping breastfeeding. You can also watch the care process on video.

Diapers or undershirts?
Choosing clothes for a child after maternity hospital is probably one of the most controversial issues. Previously, tight swaddling was recommended, but today opinions are divided: a number of experts still recommend swaddling the baby, while others recommend rompers and undershirts.
If the mother chooses swaddling, then the newborn should not be pulled into swaddling clothes too much, making a “soldier” out of the child, or covered too warmly. Babies do not tolerate overheating well.
How to properly swaddle a baby, you should watch the video:

If mommy chooses loose clothes For a child, you need to wear undershirts with closed hands or buy scratches for the little one. This will protect the baby from harming himself. If your baby sleeps very restlessly or wakes himself up, swaddling may solve the problem.
Should a child put on a cap immediately after being discharged from the maternity hospital (more details in the article:)? If there are no drafts in the room where the baby is, the temperature regime and the child is healthy, there is no need to do this. An exception may be the time after washing the baby.
Regardless of whether mom prefers swaddling or onesies, baby will need diapers. It is better to buy high-quality, “breathable” ones. This reduces the risk of developing diaper dermatitis. You can use disposable diapers for walks. At home, it’s better to use reusable gauze. This is especially true for boys.

The use of diapers is now approved by all doctors, because it is a natural progression. However, you shouldn’t get carried away with them either - it’s better to make do with diapers or reusable diapers at home
If the baby turns out to be a boy, the act of urination in the first days and even weeks of life can be painful for him. Many boys have congenital phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin), and the additional impact of a reusable diaper aggravates the discomfort. A tight or overfilled diaper can have a mechanical effect on the penis, thereby causing discomfort.
Any child (both boys and girls) does not know how to completely relax when urinating, which makes the process itself unpleasant, and the pressure of the diaper on the penis worsens the situation.
How can a mother take care of herself after childbirth?
It is important that the mother properly cares not only for the baby, but also for herself. First of all, it's proper nutrition. Avoid carbonated drinks, legumes and other foods that cause bloating. You shouldn't eat sweets for many reasons: for example, such food promotes the growth of yeast in the mother's genital tract. Food needs to be steamed.
As for the baby, fresh fruits and vegetables can be introduced into the diet in consultation with the pediatrician, and only one product at a time, in order to assess the child’s reaction to it.

Proper nutrition for mothers after childbirth - a necessity, especially if she is breastfeeding. Worth giving preference natural products, eat less fatty and fried foods
It is very important for a woman after discharge from the hospital to take care of her genitals. First, it is advisable to refrain from lifting heavy objects to allow the sutures to heal and the uterus to contract normally. If the mother had ruptures during childbirth and had staples applied to her, the baby should be fed in a lying position. Sitting is not recommended for 3 weeks after birth.
Also, for the purposes of personal hygiene, women who have given birth after the maternity hospital are advised to take a shower rather than take a bath until the vaginal discharge stops. Normally, postpartum discharge can last up to 6 weeks. You should contact a gynecologist 2 months after birth to undergo an examination and make sure that the process of uterine contraction is normal and there are no problems.