Being a first time mom is intimidating – there are so many new things to learn that you wonder how you’ll ever get through those first months. In preparation many moms-to-be read as many books as they can and talk to all their experienced mom friends to get the scoop about the major things they need to know.
But what about the other stuff? Are there things people have forgotten to tell you or that books didn’t mention that you should know about your first week or two at home so that you can prepare? There are a few – and at least knowing about them can eliminate the shock that some new parents face.
Meconium
This is the name given to the first few bowel movements your child will have, but these are not the normal type of bowel movements you would expect to see coming out of a brand new baby. Rather, they are pretty scary looking – jet black and sticky. They look a lot like tar. It simply doesn’t seem at all possible that your beautiful little baby could even expel such a nasty mess – yet in fact they can, and its completely normal.
The good thing is these weird looking bowel movements don’t last long. They are only around for a few days at most.
Umbilical Cord
When the umbilical cord is cut after the placenta is delivered it doesn’t automatically become the cute belly button that we see on older babies. Rather there is a stump of a piece left that extends out from the navel area that looks pretty crusty and may even smell that way too.
To allow the umbilical cord to heal faster it is recommended that you not submerge it under water, but rather keep it dry. So in the first few days after birth it is recommended to only give your baby sponge baths and to avoid directly touching the cord stump with water.
You May Need to Give Your Baby a Manicure
Some babies are born with fairly long nails and these nails can be sharp. If they are not trimmed in time they can lead to red scratches on baby’s face as your baby has little control of his hand movements at this stage and can inadvertently scratch himself.
Be prepared and have baby nail cutters at your disposal because nothing makes a new parent feel worse than seeing their little one with cuts or wounds on their body.
Milk’s Not In
Many new moms are under the mistaken assumption that they aren’t producing enough milk in the first few days after baby’s birth. And of course this can cause great fear as no new mom would want to starve her new baby. However the truth of the matter is that for the first 3-5 days after birth, moms don’t produce milk at all. Instead they produce something called colostrum, which actually is even more important for baby’s health.
So don’t expect to see white milk come out of your nipples right after birth – because in these first few days it won’t. Colostrum is a gold colored liquid and it is full of immune-boosting properties that can act in miraculous ways to help your baby stay healthy.
You Will Likely Be Emotional
Immediately after delivery your body will be changing again – this time to prepare you for breastfeeding and to bring you out of the pregnant state. As a result your hormonal levels will be shifting radically and as a result you will more than likely become emotional.
So expect to cry for no reason – even if you love your baby to pieces. Expect to be irrational – even if you are trying hard to keep it together. Just warn your partner so that they know what to expect too.
You Will Feel Discomfort/Pain In Your Uterus
As your body begins to return to a post-pregnant state, the uterus will begin to contract back to its original size (back to the size of a pear after growing to the size of a watermelon). These post-labor contractions that are often encouraged by breastfeeding can be uncomfortable and in some instances even be painful. Just be prepared for them so that they don’t catch you off guard and alarm you.
Try to avoid pain medication at this point if you are breastfeeding. The discomfort will last a few days and should reduce gradually. It’s a good idea to have an extra set of hands around the house – grandmother’s are ideal – to help give mom’s a chance to rest and recuperate their strength.
Motherhood is full of thousands of wonderful surprises however in the first few weeks most moms prefer to be informed rather than caught off guard. By being educated at least you can enjoy your experience as a new mom rather than fretting about things that are actually very normal.
