They Let Us Leave with a Baby?! The First 72 Hours at Home
It’s finally time. You’re bringing home baby!
You packed the hospital bag, you made the trip, you gave birth, you strapped in the car seat, and now…it’s time to go home.
Being at home with your baby the first few days can be an absolute trip, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster! Happy Family After (and this blog!) are here to help you know what to expect so you aren’t caught off guard.
Because ready or not…here they come!
They’re Here! What to Expect in Your Baby’s First 72 Hours at Home
Newborn Care
For starters, your baby will want to held. A lot. Like, a lot. It will seem like they never want to be put down, and that’s because they don’t! Their instincts are good ones; skin-to-skin contact with your baby regulates blood glucose levels, increases oxytocin levels for baby (and parents!), and helps to encourage milk supply.
Expect your baby to go through about 10-12 diapers a day, including 3-4 stools that look like tar—this is totally normal and good.
Baby will sleep many hours a day, but will experience different levels of sleep (like a cat—sometimes they’re deeply asleep, other times they’re lightly dozing)
Cluster feeding—or eating several times in a short period—is common and expected. It might make you think you’re doing something wrong, but don’t fret. This is what newborn babies do.
Postpartum Recovery
You will bleed following birth for up to 6 weeks (usually more like 2-4 weeks) whether you give birth vaginally or by c-section.
You might experience tingling or pain during letdown, or when chest tissue becomes engorged with milk. You might also feel uterine cramping when you nurse or pump milk.
Emotions are everywhere—the regulation of your hormones takes a lot of work from your brain and body. You might have surges of energy, crying jags, or everything in between.
Your appetite and thirst will be off the charts.
Household Rhythm
It’s impossible to predict what your baby will need minute to minute, but you can be pretty sure of three things: you’ll have a ton of laundry that’s needs washing, you’ll require more giant water cup refills than you ever knew possible, and you won’t feel like walking the dog or feeding the cats. We suggest having someone in the home to help you with these things so you can focus on yourself, your partner, and your new family member.
So many people will want to visit! This can be fun but disruptive and challenging, so we recommend keeping visitors to a limited, trusted few. If you do accept visitors, don’t be shy about asking them for help!
Common Questions: What Newborn Care Specialists Hear Most Often in the First 72 Hours
You’ve made it home, you’ve got the baby in your arms—and suddenly, you’ve got a million questions. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even the most prepared parents find themselves Googling in the middle of the night or whispering “Is this normal?” to anyone who’ll listen.
Here are some of the most common questions we hear from new parents in those first three days—along with the reassuring answers that can help you breathe a little easier.
- Should I Chestfeed or Bottle Feed My Baby?
- How long will I bleed after having a baby?
- How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
- Am I doing this right?
- How did they really let us leave the hospital with a whole baby?!
- All I want to do is look at my baby! Is that okay?
How Newborn Care Specialists Make all the Difference in the First 72 Hours
A Newborn Care Specialist with you hour of the first few days at home makes all the difference in your perception of this experience. Whether you have brought home your very first baby, or you’re a pro with three at home already, the first 72 hours after a new baby comes home is an All Hands on Deck situation.
It stands to reason that more hands is better than fewer hands, right?
Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists will answer every question, change every diaper (yours and baby’s!), and soothe every nerve. Learn more about Happy Family After and how we can support you through Postpartum Care.