Newborns: Bringing baby home
By: Julie Fletcher
No matter how long your baby stays in the hospital, you should be prepared for the big day when you bring your baby home. While some newborns are premature and have an extended amount of time in a neonatal unit, others will only have a short time of a day or two in the hospital before being released. Each baby is unique and will handle change differently, so being prepared will help ease any anxiety you may have of returning home with your newborn.
Leaving the hospital requires some planning. You will need adequate clothing for you and the baby as well as a safety-approved car seat or carrying device for your newborn. There are many hospitals that will come and check how your baby is placed in the seat to make sure that they are secured properly before releasing you. Some babies that are born premature or with health conditions may be sent home with heart or breathing monitors, or you may have papers provided by your doctor or health care provider with the dates of your baby’s first check-up, immunization schedule or even just common questions for new parents.
For new parents, bringing home a new baby can be an exciting time in your life; one that brings many joys and also anxieties. You may feel unprepared, unsure of your parenting skills or even relatively scared about how to handle any situations that you may have not been faced with before. There are a number of sources where you can gather information about your newborn and daily care in order to help prepare you for the time when you are home alone together.
Using the resources of your local health clinic, friends and family or even a parent support group can be an essential tool for those parents who are looking for extra help or guidance during this time of your life. Your local library will have a variety of books on the subject of newborns or even if you have a few minutes to run an online Internet web search to gather information. Reading and exploring information regarding your newborn will help you become familiar with your baby and what to do if an instance arises.
The most important part of bringing your baby home is rest. You have gone through a great deal in the last few months and giving birth is no small task. Your body will need an adequate amount of rest in order to heal and produce milk if you choose to nurse. The age-old saying of ‘Rest when the baby rests’ is a great way to gauge your day. Remember that housework will be there later and the dishes are not as important as getting your rest. Your sleep patterns will be disrupted for some time until your newborn develops a schedule of their own at home, so be sure to use any free time you have to even put your feet up and relax for a few short minutes where you can.