When you give birth to your baby, you may not have the energy to think about what happens next. It’s important for your newborn to have her first check with the doctor or midwife.

This is a routine check that every baby has when they’re born so medical professionals can pick up on anything that may need treating. You may be wondering what your baby’s check up will involve. Here are some tests your doctor may perform.

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Eye Test

Your doctor may look into your baby’s eyes to see how responsive they are. You may also notice that your doctor shines a small torch into your baby’s eyes.

As a new mother, you may feel protective over your baby and the different tests but it’s just so your doctor can see whether your baby’s eyes are working as they should.

When the torch is shined in your baby’s eyes your doctor will look to see if your baby’s iris shrinks and expands accordingly.

Hearing Test

Your baby will be too small to react to sounds yet. Unlike older children, your baby won’t be able to turn its head in response to sound, so your doctor will use other methods to test your baby’s hearing.

You may notice a nurse or midwife place a small device in your baby’s ears. This device puts a high-pitched frequency into your baby’s ears and registers your baby’s reaction. If the test is inconclusive or there is a problem an audiologist will come to investigate.

The doctor will perform the test while you’re in the hospital with your baby or you’ll be given a later appointment.

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Heart Test

They will place your baby under a fluorescent light to keep her warm. Your doctor will need to have your baby undressed to listen to her heart. There may be times when a baby’s heart beat is faster because of the trauma of being born.

There may also be times when a doctor or midwife notices an irregularity or heart murmur. In this instance, a pediatrician may come onto the ward in order to listen to your baby’s heart.

General Appearance

The doctor or midwife may spend some time just looking at your baby’s skin. If your baby’s skin appears slightly yellow, it could be because your baby has jaundice.

It can be quite common in baby’s and midwives recommend plenty of Vitamin D and sunlight. This test will also allow your health provider to identify any birth marks on the skin.

If your doctor notices something concerning, you may be referred to a pediatrician for a second opinion.

Weighing and Measuring

Your doctor will measure and weigh your baby during their first health check. This is to ensure your baby grows adequately and stays on the same percentile throughout their first year.

Measuring your baby’s height, weight and head size at different intervals is a good way to make sure there are no underlying problems.

Don’t worry, your baby is in good hands.

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Now your baby born and your first priority is making sure you attend to all their needs. You need to also look after yourself. You may find life pretty hard to cope with for a while; your body went through many changes during pregnancy, and you will probably have lumps and bumps where you did not have them before. Add this to the fact that your hormones will be in turmoil for quite a while, and it is easy to see why to need to incorporate some self-care into your daily routine.

Your personal parts

It takes about 6 weeks for your uterus and vagina to recover from giving birth.  In that time you may suffer some discomfort. You can wear specially designed postpartum underwear, just like the ones reviewed at Innerparents. These will provide support and protection that ordinary underwear can’t.

Immediately after the birth, you will bleed as though you are having a heavy period. This will dwindle eventually, but during that time you should not use tampons or sanitary products that are scented.

Your Breasts

 Whether you decide to breastfeed or not, your breasts are going to swell and fill with milk roughly 2 days after birth. If you are breastfeeding, the discomfort will subside at each feed time. If you are not breastfeeding, you have to wait for the milk to disappear. This can mean a couple of weeks of discomfort and leaking.

Wearing breast pads can help to keep it off your clothing, and with light colored tops, it will be less noticeable if a leak does occur.

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Using the bathroom

You will have no problem passing water after giving birth, although if you have stitches or were torn it can sometimes sting. Your body took on more water while you were carrying the baby, and now it needs to get rid of it. That should not stop you from drinking plenty though, as you need to make sure you stay well hydrated.

Your first bowel movements might be a little awkward, as your intestines have got used  the weight of your uterus pressing on them.  High fiber fruit, vegetables, and whole grains can help to stop you becoming constipated. If a problem persists, try a high-fiber supplement or speak with your health carer to see what they recommend.

Feeling Fragile

The new baby can cause you a rollercoaster of emotions for you as a new mom. You will feel an overwhelming love for this little being. After just a few days will feel totally exhausted too. It is perfectly natural to feel fragile after giving birth.  You need to make sure that you take care of yourself as well as the baby. That can be easier said than done when all you want to do is sleep when they do, but it is vitally important.

Never be afraid to ask for help, or to take advantage if someone offers to watch the baby while you have a bath or go to the shops. These little bits of time for you can make a big difference to the way you feel. Remember that you are a person in your own right and not just a mom.

No method of parenting works as well for some as it does for others. There is no miracle solution to make any part of it easy, that’s for sure! But many parents have started to approach parenting new babies in the same way they might prefer to approach other areas of their life. Routine makes things become easier over time because you can turn those tasks into a habit. They soon become like second-nature, and you don’t have to even think about them. Best of all, the physical side of routine tasks becomes quicker and easier because it is so well practiced.

So what parts of bringing up baby can become routine for you as a parent?

Nursing

If only nursing were easy! It’s a natural process so many moms mistakenly believe it should just happen. But you’ve never done it before. And your newborn certainly hasn’t. Don’t think for a second that some inbuilt instinct will take over. It rarely happens that way. Like most other parts of parenting, you need time to learn this skill and plenty of practice before it becomes a routine part of your day.

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A lot of new moms find they need support and coaching to get things right with nursing. And some moms and newborns never find a way to make it work. That’s OK, and it doesn’t make either of you a failure. After all, breastfeeding can be very painful, and it can be difficult for your little one to do well enough to gain a healthy amount of weight each week. Does making feeding time routine help? Yes, and no.

New moms know that leaving it too long before feeds can make your chest hurt. A longer nap than usual, or simply having to go to work can lead to this dilemma. Equally, offering a feed before you’re ready means little one isn’t going to get a full meal. Sometimes any baby crying can set you off! Like napping, you just have to deal with demand on this one most of the time. Getting into a routine of sitting, positioning, and comforting can help make the experience more pleasant. It can help to become more easy-going for you both.

Washing

Some babies are very uncertain of the water. Others don’t want to come out! Washing your newborn at the same time each evening can help them prepare for bedtime. This same activity works for us throughout our lives to trigger the body and mind for sleep. Making the activities in the tub routine can be helpful too. But you might be missing out on opportunities to aid development for your child if you rush too much.

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The texture of bubbles and the sensation of water running over the body are important for your child to experience. Over time, you’ll want to introduce different color and shaped toys. These help with vision, attention, and the reaching response. It’s OK to mix up the things you do for play with your child.

As for the process of washing? Keep it gentle and warm. This is the time of day you start to notice potential problems. You might spot skin disorders and cradle cap. It’s important not to panic. Most of these are normal and can self-correct over time. There is an article titled ‘The 6 Best Ways To Prevent & Treat Cradle Cap’ that can be very helpful if you spot something unusual on baby’s skin. Of course, if you’re spotting bruises or damage to the skin, it’s essential you make an appointment with your baby’s doctor to check it out.

Bathtime will end with gentle pat-drying and a fresh diaper. Then you might dress your baby, have a cuddle and lay her down to sleep. Do you read to your baby? Perhaps you sing or play a gentle ballad on your guitar? Making these activities routine is great for a child of any age. It gives you both quality time together and can be very soothing and comforting for a little one. Best of all, as a routine, it helps to settle down for sleep to become routine too.

Development

Can activities performed every day support healthy development as your child grows? Yes, it can, but over time, new challenges and tasks need to be introduced to develop new skills. If you have a set time each day where you can massage your baby or help them to get moving, this can be hugely useful. There is nothing to say it will speed up the first crawl, or bring out the first word any quicker. But it does help you feel assured that you’ve spent that quality time with your baby.

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Simple things like taking a walk each day can become routine. Of course, the time of day might have to change, depending on the weather and your other commitments. When your little one is a little bigger and stronger, tummy time helps to introduce your baby to the process of independent moving. It can help with rolling and crawling. It all takes practice. Should it be routine? Chances are your baby will be overtired sometimes, and hungry at others. Tick it off the list, but don’t expect 1 pm to be the best time to tackle this every single day.

Mom and baby groups are great ways to help you stay socially active. It also helps you to share your mom stories with others. You’ll soon hear that your worries and experiences are common to most moms. Best of all, your baby can experience social gatherings and identify those sounds as normal and comforting. Most groups are held by community nurses, midwives and other infant specialists. They can help support you through any problems. Most importantly, they can help you pick up any developmental difficulties your baby might be having. Make it a routine part of your week to attend these types of sessions.

Diaper Changes

Some moms, especially with two or more kids in diapers, tend to find it easier to change diapers at a routine time. Others prefer to wait until the diaper is full and then change it. This is far more cost-effective, but there is a worry that urine might have been in contact with your baby’s skin for too long. Redness and sores down there make a grumpy baby and this, in turn, makes you grumpy and tired! Routine checks are certainly a good idea, but it’s probably not necessary to change a diaper every time the clock changes. Find the balance that suits you both.

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There are three different diaper changes. The first is the full diaper that will emit an odor telling the whole household it’s time to change it! This requires copious cotton balls, water, and wipes to clean up. You might need to add some cream to soothe sore skin in the area too. Of course, these can turn up half a dozen times per day or more. Getting your clean-up routine up to speed can be very helpful for the sensitive nose!

The second is the wet diaper. These become more common as your little one gets bigger. They don’t tend to smell, and often are difficult to pick up. Diapers tend to be very good these days at drawing wetness away. Still, some soreness might be evident, so don’t be afraid to use a little warm water to wash and then some soothing cream.

The third is the fresh diaper because you’re putting the baby down for the night, or you’re going out. You don’t know whether it needs changing, but you’re going out fresh anyway! Not every wet diaper has to be changed immediately so don’t feel guilty if you find it has become quite full of wet without you noticing. Change more regularly if your little one’s skin is sensitive to it.

You

We are creatures of habit, and most of us had quite strict routines before we became pregnant. We got up at the same time each morning, brushed our teeth, had a shower, ate breakfast and went to work. Even at work, we tended to do the same tasks at the same time each day. Then, back at home, we watched the same TV shows, ate the same meals on Friday nights, and enjoyed the same bedtime routine.

It’s important you keep up as many of your old habits as you can. A newborn can’t sleep for many hours before feeling too hungry. This will interrupt your own sleeping patterns. Still, try to start your night as you did before. It won’t be too long before they make it through the night. Then, in the morning, try to get back into your regular routine. It’s easier to do when you’re super tired because it’s so rehearsed!

Strict routines are probably impossible with a newborn. Still, some routines are incredibly helpful. You’ll undoubtedly pick up many new ones along the way. Others will require you to become more flexible than ever before. Which routines have helped you as a new mom?

Your life will never be the same again. When your newborn baby enters the world, you’re both reliant on each to succeed in living a fulfilled happy life. A baby is fragile and needs constant care, however, pregnancy and giving birth can take a lot of out of you. After a couple of days in the hospital, you’ll start going through some health checks, along with the baby, before you’re given the all-clear to go home. This is a crucial time in the baby’s life because they’re leaving the safety, expertise, and comfort of doctors, nurses, and surgeons. You will take on so much responsibility and the first year will be stressful but extremely enjoyable. Transitioning from hospital to home needs thorough preparation so your baby is comfortable and you need not worry of the basics not being there for him or her.

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Shopping online for baby products

Buying products for your baby, while fully pregnant relegates you to mostly shopping online. No mother truly wants to wander around town, searching for the best deals while seven months and over, pregnant. But keeping costs in check can be tough as buying the best for your baby is something every mother wants. You can amalgamate all your products and get them delivered all-in-one companies that offer courier services. Whether you want a man with a van, a professional delivery service with a proven track record that deliver large items, or even perhaps eBay items, such services are ideal to save money. This type of courier service compiles all the prices of delivery services that can deliver to your area, and make a list of all the businesses. From then on you can compare prices and customer reviews to get the best service for you.

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Bedside crib

Before you have even go to the hospital in labour, you need to prepare for bringing the baby home. So that you can keep an eye on your little one, a bedside crib in your bedroom allows you to monitor your baby’s health during the night. Should your baby feel alone and worried, they can start crying during the night, but with you being in close proximity, you can abate their fears and console them. Some cribs are flat with a cotton cushioning, others are made from wool and have raised edges. Some have the ability to swing and rock the baby to sleep, and others are traditional and have a steady base which allows the baby to kick and move around with destabilising.

Baby clothes

This is kind of an experimental phase because baby skin is really sensitive. Therefore, not every fabric and material is going to be comfortable and may even cause skin rashes. It’s best to avoid man-made materials like synthetic fibres because harsh industrial chemicals are often used to combine the threads. However wool is sometimes wiry and itchy if not properly manufactured. The best bet for your baby clothes is to be made out of cotton. Cotton is smoother than wool and less irritating than polyester. Whether you’re buying socks, shoes, hats or baby onesies, cotton can stretch as your baby does. It’s also great to regulating body temperature, because a thin layer of cotton, is thick enough to keep your baby warm, but not as dense as wool, so it also keeps the baby from overheating.

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If you are currently pregnant for the first time, then there is plenty that you need to consider as soon as possible. Chances are, you are feeling a huge combination of emotions, and you might even be wondering what to think. The first thing to remember is to try and slow down. Many people have been there before you, and you can do it too. Next you will want to start thinking about some of the essentials. For example, what kinds of items are you going to need for when the baby arrives? Chances are you already have a fair list in your head of what you will need. In this post, we aim to help you ensure that you have thought of everything. Here are a few of the essential items that every new mother needs to remember.

Diapers

It might seem like an obvious one, but it is one of the essentials that you just can’t go without. Many other items on lists such as this you could do without for a time, but diapers are non-negotiable. It is a good idea to stock up as early as possible. If you have a spare room or somewhere similar, you could start to stockpile them. It might sound extreme, but every parent knows what it’s like to nearly run out of diapers, and it is a level of stress which you could probably best do without. So stock up early and make sure to keep adding to the pile. You will probably be surprised at just how many of them your little one gets through in such a short space of time.

Nursing Covers

If you will want to breastfeed in public, then you might want to think about your own privacy. After all, it can often be a sensitive subject, and you will want to make sure that you are comfortable when you are breastfeeding. To that end, it is a good idea to compare the best nursing covers and find one that suits your needs. With the right nursing cover, you will find the process of breastfeeding in public much more comfortable and much easier. And the more comfortable you are during the process, the better it is for both baby and you.

Wipes
Similarly to diapers, you just can’t have too many wipes. You will find that you get through these extremely fast, and as with diapers too it is a good idea to build a stockpile of them as early on as possible. This is something which you can save a lot of money on if you buy in bulk, as they often have good deals attached to them. Consider either a supermarket or a cash and carry and get your hands on as many as you can afford. You might also want to pay attention to the different kinds of wipes that you can get hold of, as they are not all made equal. Being prepared means having to think about these little details, so it is well worth getting used to that as early on as possible.

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If you are expecting your very first child soon, you are probably filled with equal parts excitement and fear. Sure, it is something that you should totally be looking forward to. But that doesn’t stop it from being a very scary time as well! If you are a new mom, you will probably be anxious about the whole labor process. I’m sure that both you and your partner are also quite worried about actually becoming parents. It may not be one of the easiest things to adapt to, but I’m sure that you both will in no time. And once you do, you will understand why so many parents say that having kids is one of the best things of all!

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There is one way you can silence all the anxious voices in your head. And that is by surrounding yourself with a good support network and getting as much advice as you can about the birth and becoming a parent. So where are the best places to go for all that handy advice? Here is where you should turn whenever you need any questions answered.

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Other Mothers

I’m sure you have lots of friends and relatives who are already moms. These are the first people you should turn to for advice! They will be able to tell you everything the know and have learned from their very own experiences. You just need to look at their great kids to see that they are doing well as mothers. So you should listen to all the useful advice they have to give! Don’t feel embarrassed by asking all your mommy friends and relatives these questions. After all, they will have been in a similar position before they had given birth to their first child! You shouldn’t feel like you are pestering or bothering them with all your questions either. I’m sure that they will be more than happy to give you some good nuggets of wisdom!

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Mommy Blogs

These days, there are loads of baby blogs written by mommies. The blog posts detail the mom’s experiences as she goes through motherhood. You will find many different bloggers have all covered common problems that most parents experience as they look after their children. Another good reason why you should check out these blogs is that most of these kinds of blogger also review products and services. So if you are ever on the lookout for a new stroller or nanny, one of your favorite mommy bloggers may have a good recommendation! Take a look at Babies for Life to get a taste for these kinds of blogs.

Doctors

Before you leave the hospital to take your new baby home, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor for your baby’s first appointment. After this appointment, you will need to make regular appointments for checkups. During these appointments, you will have plenty of chance to ask the doctor any questions that you may have. They will also be able to put any worries out of your head. Many new moms worry that their baby is sick when actually it is perfectly fit and well. So visiting your doctor regularly will be a great way to put your mind at ease. It is important that you use all of these appointments to your advantage and get everything off your chest!

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Mother And Baby Classes

There are many classes and community groups that are aimed at mothers and their new babies. These are something that you should start going to as soon as you feel able to. You will make lots of friends with other mothers at these classes and will be able to build up a great support network. The classes are usually run by people who have considerable experience of working with babies. Some may even be qualified nurses who specialize in child health. If you have any questions or need any advice, these class leaders will be able to answer any questions that you may have. Not only that, though, but you will also have all of the other mothers to talk to about your experiences. They will be able to support you, and you can help offer them support whenever anyone else needs it.

It is important that you don’t feel like you are isolated once you have a new baby. As you can see, there are plenty of people out there who make up a useful support network and will be able to help you out whenever you need any advice.

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Being a new Mom is incredibly hard. There is no denying that. After 9 months of playing house to a living, breathing and kicking little-person, your body can feel alien after the birth. It takes a long while for everything to deflate a little and although you might just want to bounce back into shape, finding time could be a challenge. You may not want even to think about a workout regime for months, but if you do, there are some great resources available to you to make it work.

1. Plan your workouts

Home workouts are going to be a blessing during this time. If you have a kettlebell or a skipping rope then squeezing in a gentle workout during nap time is going to be much more worthwhile. An excellent way to maximize your results when you only have a short amount of time is to know exactly what you’re going to do; even if you don’t know when! If you haven’t worked out your legs in a while, then schedule that to be your next routine. Be kind to yourself and take it gently.

2. Wear your athleisure gear

One of the best and easiest ways to feel motivated for a workout is to change into the correct outfit. It sounds strange, but it really works. When you get changed in the morning, put on your yoga pants and a comfortable sports bra. You’ll feel ready for anything and if you do get the chance to workout that day – you’ll be more than ready!

3. Know when it’s time to relax

This is crucial. You may want to get back into your size 10 jeans for that wedding you have to go to, but too much pressure will stress you out and be bad for the baby. There are so many lovely blogs online that you can browse when the baby is asleep, thebabytrend.com has some great articles that will amuse you. It’s important during this period that as well as keeping your body fit and healthy, you are also mindful and calm.

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself – you have a newborn!

If you don’t get to exercise and pump the iron for a few days, well, that’s absolutely fine. You have plenty of time to settle into a gym routine, and it’s important that you stay chilled about it all. If you’re lucky enough to have a partner or a friend who can watch the little one for 30 minutes while you go for a run; that’s great! But if you don’t, don’t panic. Everything good will come in good time.

5. Try something brand new

If you have never tried yoga or Pilates before, now is the time. Some people worry that they’ll hate it because it’s not ‘proper’ exercise. But trust me, it’s not easy! You’ll be stretching out your body like never before and it’ll do wonders for your back. Give it a go; you might never look back.