Being a mother can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with its set of challenges.
New mothers often feel that they are not taking care of their babies the right way even when they are doing just fine!
If you are a new mother, within a matter of days of embracing motherhood, you must have realised (and accepted) that taking care of a baby is not as easy as parenting books make it sound.
All new mothers worry about their babies, especially when it’s their first child.
Let’s look at some of the most common worries that you have as a new mother and need to stop worrying about.
1. Whether the baby is getting enough milk or not
It is very common for a new mother to think that her baby is not getting enough milk (and nutrition), as he always seems hungry and feeds every two hours or so. In the initial days, you must have had a hard time figuring out the amount of milk your baby needed. Some moms even get worked up thinking that they are overfeeding their baby. Being a mom is no piece of cake!
2. Baby’s pooping habits and poop colours
Who would have thought that such tiny human beings could poop so much? It’s both exasperating and surprising that someone so small would need over five nappy changes per day, right? Initially, a baby’s poop is on the darker side and after a few days, it starts appearing green. If a baby is being breastfed, his poop colour will be yellow. However, if he is given formula milk, he will most likely have brown stools. So many colours and so many reasons for them; no wonder new moms get anxious!
3. Baby’s constant cries
Newborns cry a lot; it’s their only way of expressing discomfort for almost a year. But sometimes, a new mother doubts her skills as a mother when she isn’t able to decipher her baby’s wails. Newborns and infants cry all the time and for various reasons: sleep, hunger, soiled diapers, over-stimulation, under-stimulation, etc. Moms, trust your instincts; you’ve got this!
4. Baby’s sleeping habits
Whether babies sleep too much or too less – moms tend to worry. Some babies sleep most of the time and that’s okay! If you also worry about your baby’s sleeping habits, then stop worrying! You don’t need to consult a doctor as long as your baby is breastfeeding properly and is wetting his diapers often.
5. Whether the baby will get diaper rash if disposable diapers are used
Most moms think twice before using diapers for their babies. Being new to parenting, you might be apprehensive about diapers because of what you may have heard about babies getting diaper rash. However, with proper care and hygiene, diapers are the most convenient way to keep your little one comfortable and mess-free.
6. Whether the baby’s head might be hurt
A new mother often worries that she will hurt her baby’s soft head accidentally. Babies have soft spots on their head known as ‘fontanelle’. Fontanelle is soft but tough and most likely will not cause damage to a baby’s skull.
7. Baby not meeting milestones on time
When a baby is unable to meet his milestones on time, a mother may turn the whole world upside down trying to figure out the cause behind his developmental delays. Parents often compare their baby’s development with that of other babies. If your baby is not cooing or gurgling by the age of four months or if he hasn’t started crawling between the ages of 7 and 10 months, there’s no doubt you would have considered dialing your paediatrician!
