Baby’s First Week
⪠A baby comes into the world prepared for growth and survival, guided predominantly by instinct in the first days. Almost immediately, a baby will succumb to her primal urge to suck, a feeding ritual essential for human survival.
⪠At birth, a baby can already recognize her motherâs voice and may attempt to turn her head in its direction. Before long, she will recognize other familiar sounds and voices to which she was exposed in the womb.
⪠At first, your baby may appear flushed and swollen, which is not unusual for a baby who has just experienced the ordeal of birth. If swelling or discoloration is present, you can expect it to subside in the first couple of days.
⪠In the outside world, a newborn baby tends to position her body in a way that mimics the comfortable closeness she experienced in the womb, closed fists with legs and arms curled. In the coming weeks, she will begin to relax her muscles as she becomes accustomed to free movement and the world around her.
⪠At this early stage, vision is a weaker sense, and a baby can only discern images about 8-10 inches in front of her. Eyesight will become significantly stronger in the coming weeks.
⪠After birth, most babies fall asleep in about an hour. Birth can be a traumatic experience for a baby, transforming everything that has been comforting throughout her existence. Newborn babies naturally need a lot of sleep, especially in the first couple of days, which is also a good time for new mothers to rest their own bodies.
It is only natural for a new mother to feel anxious about her changed role in life. A babyâs size and behavior are affected by a unique combination of prenatal, genetic and environmental factors, and should not be expected to align with impractical ideals. A babyâs individuality is her gift to her proud parents and the beginning of her contribution to the world.
About the Author: Aaron Welch is the CDO of Red McCombs Media, a leading provider of diaper delivery service. For more information, please visit http://www.hugsdiapers.net
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_154049_40.html
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