Surviving the first six weeks with a newborn
No matter how your birth was, how much support you have around you and what sort of a baby you have, the first six weeks can be a bit of a blur.
“The days are long but the weeks are short”
Try to use this time to relax into parenthood and get to know your baby. There will be tricky times, especially if your baby is uncomfortable, but it really is special and you’ll be out of it in no time.
Embrace the support
If you’re lucky enough to have family nearby or willing friends, do use them to come and help and not just hold the baby (although this is good to enable you to shower!). If they offer to do something to help - put on a wash, unload the dishwasher etc., let them. If it’s not your first baby and they offer to take your older children out, take them up on it.
Accept the mess
Your house isn’t necessarily going to look like you’re used to but that’s okay. If it’s between tidying the kitchen and taking some down time, take the down time every time.
Nap nap nap
Napping can really help you catch up and put you in a better place to take on the night ahead.
Get some fresh air
Getting out for a short walk whenever you can will do wonders for your mental health.
Don’t overload yourself with visitors
Consider limiting your plans to one plan a day, this will help with overwhelm. Also, don’t feel bad about cancelling plans if you’ve had a bad night and just don’t feel up to it.
Use support services available
Midwives, health visitors and lactation consultants are all amazing to answer any questions you might have and help you and your baby get comfortable
Introduce good sleep hygiene
Check out the Lullaby Trust and make sure you’re providing a safe sleep space for your baby. Consider using dummies, white noise and swaddles to help soothe your little one.
Overtiredness
There is no need to implement a routine early on if you don’t want to but keep an eye on how long your little one is awake for, newborns wake windows are really short - max an hour, so if they’ve been awake for close to this, encourage them to fall asleep.
Contact with your little one
For the first 12 weeks your little one is in what is called the fourth trimester - they don’t realise they aren’t part of you. This is why they settle much easier when on you. Embrace the cuddles. If you’re trying to get them to settle in their own bed use a hot water bottle to warm the bed. Let them fall asleep on you and then move them when they’re in a deeper sleep.
