Caring for your newborn means meeting his physical needs once he is outside the womb. It’s a big responsibility, but you don’t have to do it all alone. This booklet and the members of your healthcare team will teach and guide you. And, just as you learned how to care for yourself and your baby over nine months of pregnancy, you will learn how to care for your newborn over the next weeks and months. Keep in mind you don’t have to learn everything right away.
Babies are very forgiving. However, meeting your baby’s basic needs for nutrition, breathing, bowel and bladder functions, and maintaining normal body temperature can be very demanding. These needs were taken care of “automatically” while your baby was in the womb. But as soon as your baby is born, he needs your help.
While caring for your newborn’s physical needs the first few weeks you will learn a lot about your new baby. You’ll see that he may grow faster than some babies, but slower than others. He may eat, sleep, or cry more or less than his siblings did. That’s because there is no one else like your baby. Your baby is special with his own personality!
During the first few weeks there may be times when caring for your newborn seems too demanding. But you will forget your frustrations and what seems like never ending work the first time your baby smiles at you.
This 24 page booklet tells you about the basics of newborn care for the first three to four weeks. This booklet is not intended to replace the advice of your pediatrician or members of your healthcare team.
