Although much is said about what an expectant mom should or should not when she’s expecting, not much is discussed about the time after the baby’s arrival. Coming home from the hospital with a tiny human being can be overwhelming and you may feel at loss as to what you’re expected to do. You may feel helpless while taking care, especially if you don’t know what to do after the baby arrives.
Staying organized and reading up a little bit can help you keep up with parenting and figure out how to help your baby grow and develop. So if you’re a new parent, here are some things that you could do after your baby is born.
1. Write the Birth Story
There is so much that is happening during your pregnancy, and from before you go into labor until after your baby is home with you. It’s a special time for you and your family. To keep those memories intact, try to write your baby’s birth story. When you get back home from the hospital, the memories are still fresh. Don’t wait until later as you may forget the details while taking care of your little one. Once you get all of it written down, you can go back and read it any time you want later on in life. Maybe once your baby grows up, he’ll enjoy his birth story too.
2. Make a place for Hospital Keepsakes
When you’re in the hospital, you get several keepsakes such as baby’s bracelet, baby wear or baby hats. These are usually the first things that your little one wears after they’re born and you might want to keep them for future memories. You can try putting them inside your baby book or store them in a box. Make sure you keep everything in one place so that you don’t lose them. It will be fun to look back later and show your little one just how small he was when he was born.
3. Take Newborn Pictures
Many people say that within the first week of your baby’s birth is the best time to get pictures. It may be due to the fact that babies sleep more soundly and are getting used to the world around them. So if you plan on sending birth announcement and taking pictures for the same, schedule this session very soon after your baby is born. You can either hire a professional to take the pictures of you and your baby, or do it yourself.
4. Start the Paperwork
It is important to get your child’s birth certificate and other documents such as Aadhar Card in place soon after their birth. Most hospitals will help you with this paperwork, but if you haven’t been given anything to fill out and sign before you leave, make sure you ask the nurses and find out what you need to do. Our hospital KIMS Cuddles will help you know more about all the paperwork that you need to do for your little one.
5. Write down any questions you may have
When you get home from the hospital, you suddenly have a lot of questions in your mind. You may forget about them while taking care of your baby hence it is important that you write them down as and when you remember them. Talk to your doctor about these during your baby’s first appointment and clarify all your doubts. Even after that first appointment, make sure you keep writing down your questions to ask doctor later in subsequent appointments.
6. Schedule your baby’s first appointment
Before you leave the hospital, talk to your doctor about when you should schedule your baby’s first doctor appointment. It is usually after two weeks of baby’s birth and is done to make sure your baby is gaining weight. It will also give you the chance to ask any questions that you may have about your baby’s health. Make sure you call up your baby’s pediatrician and fix up the appointment.
7. Schedule your own check-up
Giving birth can lead to a lot of changes in your body. Before you leave the hospital, your doctor will discuss steps you can take at home to make the recovery process faster. They will also tell you to schedule a postpartum appointment for 6 weeks after your baby’s birth. Make sure you take out time from your busy parenting schedule and visit your doctor for a thorough check-up. They will evaluate you and ensure you’re recovering well from your birthing experience. You can also discuss any postpartum physical or mental health issues that you may be experiencing at this time. Your doctor will suggest the best way to overcome the same.
8. Keep a Baby Book
A fun idea to make your birth experience memorable is to create a baby book. You can record what you were doing when labor started, how long labor lasted, and other things like popular songs from that time, or a movie that you may have seen, or any other significant event of that time. You can do this all while the baby is napping and create memories of your little one’s first few days in this world.
9. Ask for Help
Taking care of a baby is hard work. You will have plenty of people who may offer their help in any way possible. Take them up on their offer and ask for their help. People want to help you any way they can, especially those who have had babies because they know how hard it can be. If you feel like you can’t cook dinner, ask a friend or a relative to send you meals so that you don’t have to worry about it. Remember that it’s ok to ask for help.
Caring for a newborn is hard work. The first few weeks are particularly tough when you feel tired taking care of your baby. It gets better with time as you get more comfortable with caring for your baby. Also, remember to be patient with yourself. Your body has gone through some intense changes and it may be a while before you feel completely better after getting home from the hospital. Take things easy and talk to our doctors at KIMS Cuddles for advice.
