Bringing Your Baby Home From The Hospital

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For me, the hardest days and nights for adjusting to a new baby are the very first ones. It was shocking with my first baby and overwhelming with the ones that followed. Here are some words of advice that you may find helpful if you are getting ready to bring home your new baby.

Enlist some help in remembering to take your pain medication! You will no longer have nurses checking on you and reminding you to take your medicine. My husband was a big help with this and I kept a notepad close to me so I could write down the times that I took my medication. I was so tired. I never would have remembered otherwise. If you are breastfeeding, I would suggest writing down your baby’s feeding times also.

Even if you are feeling better, SLEEP WHEN YOUR BABY SLEEPS! I was guilty of trying to clean up, watch tv, or try to get things done around the house after my first baby was born. As a result, when my husband’s week off of work was over, I wanted to cry. I was exhausted and my help was leaving. I learned my lesson with my other babies. Your body needs the rest to heal and function. Any housework can wait and your visitors won’t care, they are too busy admiring your new baby.
Let someone else run the errands. Even if you are completely prepared, you will need things. Diapers, more Always pads, groceries, something. Let your spouse, family or friends that offer to help, actually help you. Let someone else go to the store and stay home with your baby. Keep your newborn away from exposure to large groups of people whenever possible. Even if this means asking visitors to wait a week or so before coming over. Some people may not understand but it is YOUR baby. This is just the beginning of making decisions for him/her that others will question.

Keep up your strength by eating regular, healthy meals and snacks. It is easy to forget to eat while you are racing between doctor appointments and getting used to your new routine. When it would happen to me, I would feel light-headed and nauseous and then panic that something was wrong with me. By eating regularly, I functioned better.

If you are nursing your baby, it is especially important to remember to eat healthy foods and drink PLENTY of water. Also, pay attention to what you are eating and how different foods may affect your baby. When my second son was born, I craved a certain spicy Mexican meal. It was wonderful as I ate it but a mistake that I would never make again after I was up all night with a screaming baby. All babies can react differently to foods but in general I tried to avoid anything spicy, a lot of garlic, peanut products (my husband has a peanut allergy and I didn’t know if my baby would or not), caffeine, alcohol and any foods that I noticed caused him problems. It is a small sacrifice for a happy baby.

Enjoy your time with your baby! Before you know it, the distinctive newborn cry will go away. The soft, fresh baby smell will fade. Your baby will not always fall asleep on your chest breathing heavy, restful sighs into your neck. There are wonderful times to come but you have limited time with your child as a newborn. Treasure every second.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.