Episode 17: POST-NATAL EP 06 – DAY20-21 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BY THIS TIME WITH YOU AND YOUR BABY
On today’s episode is an overview about what you need to know by time with you and your baby including:
MOTHER:
- Breastfeeding feeling like successfully establishing, breasts softening & nipples improving (supply & demand evens up at 4-6 weeks)
- Womb fully involuted (abdominal palpation by midwife/obstetrician)
- Perineum/C-Section Wound close to fully healed & totally comfortable
- Learn about Expressing Breastmilk (room temp <26 covered up to 4 hours, back of fridge up to 48hrs then can be frozen, 2 weeks in fridge’s freezer box, 3 months in fridge’s separate freezer, 6 months in dedicated deep-freeze. Thaw in fridge, warm by standing in container of warm water, always discard leftovers. To freeze use ice-cube tray, to sterilize dribble water into tray, put inside new plastic freezer bag (roll of new plastic bags are sterile). Disposable bottle-liners also available.
- Reminder cx pap smear 6/52 if overdue
- Rubella & Chickenpox (Varicella) status – consider vaccines for Self
- Reminder of GTT at 6-weeks if had Gestational Diabetes
- Consider Contraception options
- Be aware of Community support agencies/networks available in your area
- Family Violence screen
BABY:
- Detailed neonatal examination including weight, height, head circumferance, reflexes & umbilical stump – making good weight-gain (review infant feeding patterns – not now a “snack & snooze” baby)
- Hearing Screen
- Full information on Vaccinating (refer section in OH BABY)
INFANT SLEEP’s 12 Golden Rules, 12 Magical Secrets, 20 Do’s & Don’ts
What’s Normal?:
- 1-3 Weeks: 16-20hrs/24 (eg 6-8 sleeps of 2-3hrs)
- 4-6 Weeks: 16-20hrs/24 incl one 5-6hr sleep overnight (eg 10pm-4am)
- 2-3 Mths: 15-18hrs/24 with about half at night (eg 7-8hrs overnight by 7-9wks, and 9-11hrs by 3-4mths) and the rest typically as 3 day-sleeps of 1½ – 3hrs each
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