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After your pregnancy and home birth, it’s time to take care of your bundle of joy. If this is your first child, however, you may be nervous about the process. This helpful guide will show you the steps to take care of a newborn at home.

Feeding

Newborn babies should be fed every two to three hours, or whenever they seem hungry. If your baby cries or puts their fingers in their mouth, for example, it may be time to feed them. If you’re breastfeeding, your baby should nurse on each breast for 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re bottle-feeding your little one, they will need approximately 2 to 3 ounces at every feeding.

Bathing

After the home birth and before their umbilical cord falls off, give your newborn a sponge bath. Dip a cloth in warm water and carefully wash their head and body. Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls off, you can bathe them in a tub two to three times a week.

Diapering

In general, your newborn’s diaper should be changed every two to three hours. Change the diaper as soon as they’ve had a bowel movement to prevent irritation. Clean the area with mild soap and water and apply barrier cream before you put on a new diaper.

Sleepinghome birth

Newborn babies spend the majority of their time sleeping. They may sleep about eight hours during the day and another eight or more at night. However, newborns wake up every few hours because they’re hungry or have wet their diaper.

When you put your newborn down to bed, lie them on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s a good idea to put your newborn’s crib in your room for the first six months so that you can keep an eye on them.

Bonding

Bonding with your newborn in the first days after home birth is critical because it fosters their emotional growth. As you cradle your baby, gently stroke them and talk to them in a soft voice. Be sure to support your newborn’s head and neck as you do this.

 

If you’re interested in home birth, turn to the professionals at Home Birth with Love in Suffern, NY. The owner, Leah Marinelli, is a Certified Nurse Midwife with 16 years of experience in home delivery. They provide their clients with safe and holistic birthing and midwife services. For more information about their services, call (845) 641-5058.

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