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In order to cover most of the issues about the first weeks of life of a newborn, I will use the method of Frequent Asked Questions – by the new mothers.

1. 1.Bringing baby home. Infants under 1 year of age should ride a rear-facing car seat, properly installed in the back seat. About the safety of the house you may use one of my previous articles in the forum of this website.
2. 2.Keep your baby away from infections. Reduce the number of visitors, make sure that everybody washes their hand when entering the house (baby’s room), don’t aloud sick persons to come into your house, don’t take your baby in crowded places, try not to use public transportation (including cabs), and no kisses on the mouth and the nose. Of course, absolutely no smoking around the baby.
3. 3.Breastfeeding is much superior to any formula for a lot of many reasons. It is actually the perfect food for a newborn. If you choose not to breastfeed, if there are medical conditions why you can’t, formula is an acceptable alternative to breastfeed.
4. 4.Parents often wonder how to tell if their baby is getting enough to eat. There are several ways parents can evaluate adequate intake. Your baby should act hungry and demand to eat every one and a half to three hours, with one longer night interval. Your baby should have a wet diaper every 2 to 4 hours. For approximately the first month a well-nourished, breast-fed infant will pass a soft, yellow, curdy bowel movement six or more times each day. Bottle-fed infants may pass stool as infrequently as every three or four days. All this wide range of passing poops is normal. Whenever you doubt the adequacy of your baby's intake of milk, it is always best to check your baby's weight at the doctor's office.
5. 5.All the newborns loose weight in the first days of life and they should regain their birth weight by maximum 3 weeks of age (new recommendation of AAP).
6. 6.All the newborns have a degree of jaundice. Preterm babies and breastfed babies tend to have a longer jaundice. The second week of a jaundice in a breastfed baby is actually called “breastmilk jaundice” and is considered normal. In the first days of life the doctors will monitor the level of jaundice and if it’s too high the baby might need phototherapy. Mother should anyway do “phototherapy” after discharging from hospital by exposing the newborn’s head to sunlight next to a window exposed to sun. Call your doctor if you notice the skin becoming more yellow, if the whites of the eyes become yellow or if your baby is sleeping too much and refusing food.
7. 7.Average infants, in the first month of life, sleep anywhere between ten and twenty-three hours per day. Helping your baby sleep may be fostered by the following points: Take the extra steps to make baby comfortable before putting him down (full belly, burp, clean, dry diaper). Wrap (swaddle) securely. This reduces the chance of the baby's own movements disturbing him. Maintain warmth. Chilliness will wake the baby from a light sleep. Cold can present a dangerous situation for infants. Keep the environment slightly warmer than comfortable for an adult.
8. 8.Back to Sleep. Today experts believe the back (supine) position is the safest. Some studies show a 80% reduction in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death) rates with babies who are placed on their backs to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back sleeping position for all healthy, full term babies. Make sure you give belly and side position time as long as the baby is observed. Whenever he is alone he should be on his back.
9. 9.The umbilical cord turns black a few days after birth and will fall off between 1 - 4 weeks, mostly around 2 weeks of life. Keep the area clean by using alcohol on sterile cotton balls. Keep it exposed to air and do not give the baby a tub bath until it falls off. Do not pull it off, even if it is hanging by a thin piece of tissue. Call the physician you ever notice a circle of redness on the skin around the area, or if it has a foul odor.
10. 10.Babies don’t need to be bathed every day. Give only sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off. For a regular bath tub use a basin or special “baby’s tub” with no more than 2 inches of water. Use mild soap like plain Dove. Support your baby’s head during the bath. Never leave your baby alone not even for a few seconds – like answering the phone or turning off the oven – you better take the baby with you, if you have to leave the bathroom.
11. 11.Some new mothers may develop postpartum depression in the weeks and months after giving birth, especially when they don’t get enough sleep. It is a known condition given by hormonal misbalances. If you feel down or unhappy about having a new baby or if you have trouble handling the demands of caring for a new baby, call your doctor’s office.
12. 12.There are many topics to discuss like colics, formula intolerance, rashes, mainly diaper rashes, pink eyes and mainly the only few reasons when you need to take your baby to the emergency – which will be the topic for my next article.

Source: American Academy of Pediatric Guidelines.

Florin Vlasie, M.D.Board Certified Pediatrician1425 West H Street, Suite 330 • Oakdale, CA 95361(209) 848-8133

Now accepting new patients and most major insurances. Late hours and same day appointments available.