Are You Afraid Of Your Child’s Arrival? A Guide To The First Days

The arrival of a child can give rise to anxiety and tension. As the date approaches, we become more and more emotional, so it’s good to take action to stay calm.

Delivering a small baby to the world is a big deal. We prepare ourselves to receive a new member of the family in a harmonious and peaceful environment.

It is important to control unpleasant feelings of stress and fear in order to cope with all the thousands of tasks that must be completed before birth.

It is normal to feel disoriented and anxious when you come home with the baby in your arms for the first time. Many people may have doubts about basic but fundamental things such as feeding, care and how to calm the baby when it cries, etc.

But do not be too hard on yourself, because all new moms go through it.

To plan before birth

When the child arrives, it becomes the center of attention. It is therefore very important to plan in advance to facilitate the family’s harmonious development during the first days.

Below we have a list of things to keep in mind so that the first days are not so difficult:

• Family meals: prepare and freeze food that you then have available.
• Buy everything you need for the baby in advance: diapers, hygiene products, wet wipes, etc.
• Clothes and utensils: wash and organize everything that will be used by the little one in advance.

• Use paper plates during meals to make it easier to clean.
• Go through health insurance to avoid last minute crises.

Guide to the first days after your child’s arrival

It is good to keep the following in mind when your child is at home:

• Regular visits: Constant visits often disturb your child’s peace of mind. It is important to establish schedules for visits from family and friends.
• Follow the baby’s rhythm: A newborn can be very demanding at night. Take advantage of everything that can be done before bedtime so that you do not become overwhelmed and tired.
• Delegate activities: If for some reason you have to run errands, wash or do something else that focuses on the child, that task can be delegated to someone who is willing to help.
• Take care of food: Time is almost always limited. Eating healthy and not skipping meals is something you need to keep in mind. You need to stay strong for your baby’s arrival, and even more so while breastfeeding.
• Trust your instincts: It is often difficult to identify what worries children, because everything is manifested through crying. If you have suspicions about why they are crying, follow your instincts. You will almost always guess correctly.

The child’s needs during the first days

Your child’s arrival must be well planned as it needs a certain environment to feel comfortable:

• Place the crib in a place in the house where it is easy to maneuver.
• Babies usually swallow a lot of air during feeding. If you make them belch 5 minutes later, you will avoid uncomfortable experiences later.
• Carefully disinfect the umbilical cord.
• Change diapers every two or three hours.
• The baby’s clothes should be comfortable and easy to put on so that they do not disturb it so much.

The first days are not easy. Everyone needs time to adjust and it can take a while. If you feel exhausted, ask for help from family or friends who will want to help you.