Baby’s second week

The anxiety of the first days will have passed and the routine of the house is more used to the presence of a baby. In turn, the baby will continue the sequence of sleeping a lot, suck a lot, cry and change the diaper.

During the second week, the umbilical stump becomes darker and drier and should fall. When it happens, it will be necessary to clean the navel for another 3 days with 70% alcohol, and then cleaning is done normally, like the rest of the body.

The baby will begin to regain the weight lost after leaving the maternity ward. On average, there is a gain of 150 to 200 grams per week until 3 months of life. Any changes, talk to the pediatrician. It is interesting to have the doctor’s contact always at hand if you observe something out of the standard, but keep calm, if stress can damage milk production.

Interact a lot with your baby. As he still only sees at a minimum distance of 30 cm, approach the face and talk to him, smile. If he smiles back, even if it’s just a natural reflection, enjoy that moment.

 

Breast-feeding

You are not yet fully in tune about breastfeeding, but you are on the right path. They have already defined which position is most comfortable and you already have a slight sense of how long your baby sucks.

Colostrum will change color, consistency and increase quantity. Transitional milk is considered before mature milk. If this change does not occur, consult your doctor.

The breasts will become fuller and heavier, and may be painful, this is due to the fact that milk production is much higher compared to the first week, going from 6 to 7 milliliters per day, up to 600 milliliters.

Even though it looks like the popularly called weak milk, it has all the necessary nutrients for your baby, with the ideal amount of fats, sugars and calories.

Keep breastfeeding and do not resort to bottles and supplements thinking it is not enough to feed you. The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will have.

If the breast is too full and is too hard for the handle, empty it a little before offering it to the baby.

At the end of the week or a few more days, the milk becomes mature, becoming whiter and increasing the levels of nutrients, keeping the baby healthy and well fed.

 

Cramps

The immaturity of the baby’s digestive system leads to the appearance of the dreaded cramps. And from that second week, they can give the first signs, and last until the 3rd month.

Some babies are relatively well through this phase, others will need more intensive care, but keep calm, the more peaceful it is, the easier it is for the baby too.

To identify, pay attention to the most common signs:

– incessant crying, even after having a diaper changed, breastfeeding or discarding other possibilities.

– red face

– hardened belly

– legs bent towards the abdomen

– it releases more gases

– appearance of suffering and pain

 

To relieve, use and abuse of massage on the belly, keeping it warm. Place the baby face down on your arm and rock slowly. Gently bend your legs towards your abdomen. Heat a cloth with an iron or use a hot water bottle. Warm baths or hot tubs for babies, the bucket bath, in addition to relaxing the baby’s body, can relieve colic. And the technique that the baby likes most, comfort him in his lap and give him a lot of affection.

 

Clogged nose

Dry weather, dust from clothes and blankets, among other factors can cause the baby’s nose to become blocked, precisely because the nostrils are very small.

In general, this does not cause anything serious, but it can annoy the baby and prevent him from breastfeeding.

When this happens, the doctor is likely to prescribe saline, which is sold in small single-dose ampoules, droppers or sprays. Lightly hold the baby’s face and apply as directed by a doctor.

 

Sleep

The baby continues the sleep rhythm of up to 20 hours a day. As the organism is still adapting to the circadian cycle, it will wake up a few times during the night, but continue with the bedtime routine so that it can learn to do it alone without having to cry or breastfeed at night.

 

Visits

Many family and friends must be eager to meet the baby.

Ask them to wash their hands and rub alcohol on the gel. And don’t be afraid to ask them to: Don’t wear perfumes. Don’t ask to wake the baby up, respect the nap time. And don’t visit if you have a cold, a cold, a cough or some other illness.

 

Puerperium: mommy also needs care

Keep taking care. If the delivery was cesarean or if there was an episiotomy, cut close to the vagina, the stitches are still recent and need care to heal and not become inflamed.

Your body is still recovering from pregnancy and childbirth and your emotions can get a little messy, the so-called “puerperal blues”. Try to find a breach during your baby’s naps so you can rest too.

And remember to make an appointment with the doctor for you.