The first of your baby milestones is helping your newborn adjust to his new home.

So let’s continue discussing the issues that Jennifer had in adjusting to life at home with her beautiful new baby boy, Joshua.

It was certainly helping Jen to talk to me about what she felt. She wasn’t really prepared for the sheer, overwhelming sense of total responsibility for this wonderful, new life.

So what should you expect for your baby’s first week home?

When you think about it it is 9 months since you found out that you would bring a new life into your home.

So how do you prepare – you decorate the nursery; childproof your home; gather all the supplies and equipment you will need.

Not many new parents plan and prepare for the emotions that they may feel during the first few weeks. Nor do they plan for the practical stuff like why your newborn cries so much, or why she spits up, or ’should her head really be that shape?’

After all, you cannot change your mind now! This bundle of joy is here to stay, and he hasn’t arrived with an instruction manual!

Take a look here at your very own instruction manual for new babies.

Anyway back to Jen and Joshua…..

Josh was 3 weeks old when I visited for the first time, and Jen started to tell me how the first week at home had been.

She was frightened, overwhelmed, exhausted, yet excited too, and completely unprepared for the massive adjustments needed in every area of her life. It had come as a huge shock, despite her preparations.

Jen felt that although Joshua was either sleeping or feeding, she never thought that it would take up the whole of her time. She hadn’t time to eat, sleep, – she barely had time to clean her teeth. She just felt that she could not leave his side for one second, even when he was asleep.

She had the vision of having lots of time while the baby slept to do what she needed. But she was exhausted and anxious, so she could not relax.

Helping your baby adjust to a new environment requires a lot of cuddling and contact during the baby’s first week home. You don’t want to change that closeness now that your infant is no longer in the womb. Keeping your newborn warm, cuddling and preventing too many distractions during feeding or other times will help your newborn adjust to his/her new environment. You want to make your baby feel as safe outside the womb as he/she felt inside the womb, and this is a full time job.

I think there are a lot of first time Moms out there who would benefit from some preparation in how you will actually feel and cope with those first few weeks and months.

I think I might have the answer for you all – why not try my 30 Day Challenge – It is called ‘Look after Yourself’ and is FREE to join in. Check out that huge yellow star right there on the sidebar!

Remember, the baby’s first week home is the most important time in your new child’s development, so you want to make sure that you provide as much comfort and nurturing as possible.

So try the 30 Day Challenge – it might help you to relax and realise that the care you give to yourself during these precious first weeks, will pay dividends in helping you be a more relaxed and confident Mom – and we all know that this means a happier baby!

•  Newborn, new baby, new tasks? (informationonhealth.blogspot.com)
• I am home! (awesomemom.blogspot.com)

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3. Topic of the Week – Newborns
4. Breastfeeding Your Newborn
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