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Baby's First Days

Bringing your baby home from the hospital is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. In these early days, your newborn will be adjusting to life outside the womb, and you, as a parent, will be getting used to your new routine. It’s important to remember that these first days may feel chaotic, but that’s normal. You’re adjusting to new rhythms—sleepless nights, feeding schedules, and bonding with your baby. In the first few days, your newborn may sleep most of the time, waking only to eat or be changed. It’s normal for babies to lose a little weight (under 10% from birth weight) during the first week, but they should regain it within the first two weeks. We will closely monitor weight loss in the first week. Keep an eye on wet and dirty diapers—six or more wet diapers and three to four bowel movements daily are signs that your baby is eating enough.

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Your baby will do some things all healthy babies do just because they are babies-sneeze, yawn, burp, have hiccups, pass gas, cough, grunt, groan, turn red and cry. They may occasionally look cross eyed. 

Umbilical Cord Care

Your baby’s umbilical cord stump requires special care in the first few weeks of life. The stump will typically fall off within 1-3 weeks after birth, but until then, you need to keep it clean and dry to prevent infection.

 

Here are steps for proper umbilical cord care:

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01

Keep It Dry: Avoid submerging your baby in water until the stump has completely dried out and fallen off. Stick to sponge baths during this time.

02

Fold Down the Diaper: Ensure the diaper is folded down in front to avoid covering or irritating the stump. Some newborn diapers are designed with a cut-out for the umbilical area.

03

Clean Gently: If the stump becomes dirty, clean it with plain water and dry it gently by patting with a soft cloth. Avoid using alcohol or other antiseptics. 

04

Let It Fall Off Naturally: Don’t pull or tug at the stump. It will fall off on its own when ready.

Signs of infection to watch for include:

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  •   Red, swollen skin around the base of the stump.

  •   Pus or foul-smelling discharge.

  •   Fever in your baby (higher than 100.4°F).

  •   Bleeding that doesn’t stop with light pressure.

 

If you notice any of these signs, contact us right away. Dr. Thomas emphasizes that proper umbilical cord care is a key part of keeping your baby healthy in those early days.

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