New Baby FAQ Twelve questions frequently asked by new parents about their babies.
	1 When should I feed my baby? Watch your baby, not the clock. Your baby will usually cry when she or he is hungry. A tiny baby usually wants to eat every two to three hours - sometimes you may wonder if you will ever sleep again. As your baby gets bigger, the need to feed will happen less often. Be flexible about feeding times. Normally your new baby will know when it's time to eat and a rigid schedule may result in your baby crying unnecessarily. Try not to wait too long between feedings. It may cause the baby to gulp air and spit up during the next feeding. 2 OK, but will she ever get on a schedule? Many babies, if fed when they are hungry, will begin to put themselves on a schedule by the end of their first six weeks. 3 How much should I feed my baby? Leave that up to him or her. Your baby will stop eating when he or she is full. Don't try to feed your child more than he or she wants. 4 Is there anything I can do to make feeding time more satisfying for my baby? Yes. As much as possible hold your baby so that he or she can see your face. This is an important learning time. Babies soon learn who satisfies their most important need - hunger. 5 I'm breast feeding. How do I know that my baby is getting enough milk? This is pretty easy to gauge. Your baby is getting enough milk if there are six very wet diapers each day. 6 My baby seems to want to breast feed all the time lately. What's going on? If a baby acts hungry and wants to nurse every one to two hours she or he may be experiencing a growth spurt. This usually lasts just a couple of days and the frequent nursing tells your body to make more milk. 7 Why does my baby cry? Crying is a call for help. During the first few months of life babies can't control crying. Your baby will cry when it needs something and will stop only when the need is met. Studies show that mothers who respond to their babies' cries quickly have babies who cry less often and for shorter times. These babies then have more energy for learning and interaction with people. A baby cries because she or he is. . . Hungry - If is has been two hours since your baby last ate, try feeding him or her. Lonely - If your baby calms and stays calm after you picked him or her up you were missed. Your baby is used to being snug in your womb and hearing your heartbeat. He or she likes to be held closely and hear the sound or your familiar heartbeat. You cannot spoil your baby by holding and cuddling him or her. Cold/hot - Feel baby's back or tummy to see if he or she is too hot or cold. Adjust clothing to make her or him more comfortable. Over-stimulated - Allowing too many people to hold or talk to your baby at one time may overdo it. Rock your child in a quiet, dimly-lit room until he or she calms. Startled - Baby may move suddenly and become startled. Wrapping you baby securely and holding him or her closely may have a calming effect. Wet diapers - Some babies don't mind, others do. Having Pain - Baby may be ill or uncomfortable. If he feels warm, check his temperature. Also, check for a pin, a sharp tag or a zipper poking him or her. Sleepiness - Some babies just need to fuss before going to sleep. 8 What is colic, what can I do for it, and what do I do when I can't stand the crying anymore? Colic usually starts when baby is about two weeks old and disappears at about three months. Colicky babies have tummy pains and their tummies feel hard. They have loud piercing cries and draw their knees tight up against their body. They'll nurse greedily for three or four minutes and then cry loudly again. The crying can last for several hours, at about the same time each day, usually in the late afternoon or late evening. Sometimes a colicky baby will continue to cry even after you've tried all the usual remedies. It's not your or your baby's fault. Try these ideas: Lay baby across your knees and rub or pat her or his back. Rock baby at 60 rocks per minute, or use an infant swing. Walk with baby tucked under your arm with your hand tucked under the baby's tummy. Hold baby so she or he can look around at things. Change bath time to evenings. Place your baby in as upright position as possible for the evening feeding. Burp your baby well. Offer baby a pacifier. Sucking often helps relax baby's stomach. Go for a ride in the car, putting baby in the car seat. Play soft music, sing to your baby, run a fan or vacuum cleaner, or play the radio on static. Talk with your baby's doctor see if he or she has any other ideas. If you have tried everything and your baby still cries, try these ideas: Put your baby in her or his crib and shut the door for a few minutes. Vacuum or take a shower. You won't hear him or her and the noise might calm your baby. Ask a friend or relative to watch your baby for a half hour or an hour. Everyone needs a break now and then. If you think your baby is ill, call your doctor. If you just need to talk to someone, call a friend, family member, minister, or the Parents Helpline at 1-800-345-5044 (the Stress Relief Center in Portland). 9 What about drugs and breast feeding? Many mothers wonder about drugs and their breast milk. To some degree, any drug you take will be present in your breast milk. Some drugs do not present a problem for your child - others do. Here is some information on some commonly-used drugs and some dangerous drugs that may cause problems for your baby: Vitamin B6, when taken in large amounts (more than is in prenatal vitamins), may inhibit lactation in some women. The recommended daily allowance of B6 during lactation is 2.1 milligrams. Check the amount of B6 on your vitamin label (some vitamin tablets contain as much as 10 milligrams). If your breast milk output is low, consider this as a possible cause. Consuming large quantities of caffeine - found in colas, coffee and tea - may cause your baby to be fussy. Very little of the caffeine may be found in your breast milk, but if you suspect your baby's fussiness is aggravated by caffeine, try eliminating it from your diet. Theobriomine, a substance found in chocolate, can produce a similar effect to that of caffeine. The alcohol content in breast milk will be similar to the content found in your blood. Therefore, the effects on the baby will be relative to the amounts of alcohol you consume. It is probably wise to eliminate alcohol from your diet while breast feeding. Some older books on breast feeding advise small amounts of beer or other alcohol products to stimulate the let-down reflex. This is no longer recommended. Heavy smoking reduces milk production and the vitamin C concentration in breast milk. It can increase the incidence of nausea, diarrhea and colic in infants. Smoking near the baby can increase the incidence of pneumonia and bronchitis in baby. It is wise to avoid smoking while lactating and while you are near the baby. Marijuana not only has the same detrimental effects on your baby as smoking tobacco, but the active drug found in marijuana decreases the baby's opportunity to develop physically, socially, and emotionally. Cocaine used during lactation will be in the breast milk and will have the same effects in the baby as in the mother. It can cause profound changes in heart function and is linked to increased incidents of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Check with your doctor, midwife and/or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs. If you need medicines, remind your health care provider that you are breastfeeding so that appropriate medication can be prescribed. 10 How long will I bleed after I deliver my baby? The bleeding that flows from your uterus after the delivery of the placenta is called lochia. The first few days after birth, lochia is heavy. The amount of this flow can change with activity and position. The flow will generally be heavier when sitting, standing or breastfeeding. It often has a fleshy odor. Within about ten days the flow should diminish and become pale pink. During the next several weeks it becomes yellowish white, brown or white. It can continue up to six to eight weeks. 11 When can I have sex again? Some women want to have sex as soon as possible after birth, others may prefer to wait or may even feel afraid. Lack of energy, a sore perineum and a demanding baby can have an effect on your ability to relax and enjoy lovemaking. However, you both still need to feel loved, so cuddling and "pleasuring" (touching and enjoying each other's bodies sensually without the pressure of intercourse) can help you both relax and show your love. Try to keep your sense of humor and be honest with one another about your feelings. Doctors routinely recommend that new mothers wait six weeks before resuming intercourse. It is probably safe to have intercourse when your stitches are healed, your vaginal discharge declines and you feel like it. Be gentle; you probably will be sore at first. You will probably have decreased vaginal lubrication due to hormonal changes. If you are breastfeeding this will continue. To help with this, try K-Y jelly or a contraceptive cream. Keep in mind that pregnancy can occur whether or not menstruation has resumed. Talk with your doctor or midwife about a satisfactory method of birth control before resuming sex. 12 What are the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and when do I need to seek help? You may have varying degrees of emotional ups and downs after birth. These emotional ups and downs can be associated with drastic hormone level changes, fatigue, inexperience, or lack of confidence with newborn babies, loneliness, or isolation from supportive adults. For some women these emotional fluctuations are minor, or they decrease within a few weeks. For others, they are overwhelming and long-lasting, creating feelings of anxiety, depression and an inability to cope. If you have such feelings, even with adequate rest, you may benefit from counseling from someone who has expertise in postpartum emotions. Following is a list of the more serious signs that indicate postpartum depression. If you have any of them, tell a loved one, a friend, or a counselor, or join a support group. Depression - "Baby blues" occur in the early postpartum weeks; they are short lived and temporary. However, if they continue and you are very sad, hopeless and depressed, tell your partner and seek help. Excessive talking, worrying or crying - seek help. Extreme changes in appetite - loss of appetite is a sign of depression. If you are never hungry or have to force yourself to eat, seek help. Inability to sleep - If you feel constantly agitated and are unable to relax, these too are signs of depression. Inability to care for your baby - If you find yourself excessively worried about your baby and cannot soothe, feed or change her or him, seek help. Back to Family Birthplace
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