Episode 18: POST-NATAL EP 07 – WEEK4-5 A MONTH GONE BY
Well they’re only Neonates (newborns) for the first 6 weeks – so what are the things you need to know now, and very soon?
On todays episode is all about: Mother and Baby
MOTHER:
• Conclusion of Midwifery/Doula/Obstetrician relationship – need Contraception script?
• Overall health status physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, sexual
• Expectations of ongoing community assistance and local GP/MD
BABY @ 3-4 WEEKS
• Neonatal overall wellbeing of health and development, incl Feeding & Behavourial patterns
• Milestones: Cooing, Talking (mimicking), Tummy-Time (lifts head), Snuggles (lifts head to lean into your shoulder), Dramatic increase to head circumference
• Enjoys soft soothing music (classical, lullabies), Enjoys chat’s with pauses, One interesting thing to look at is enough (bold black/white pics/stripes)
• AVOID stimulation-overload (toys that shake, rattle, jiggle, wiggle, squeak, vibrate)
• 3rd dose of Oral Vitamin-K
• Booked for 6-week Doc check & commencing vaccine schedule
BABY @ 5 WEEKS
- Stormier period of crying/clinginess (easily over-stimulated), then particularly sunny at around 6 weeks. [Refer Hetty Van de Rijt & Frans Plooij & their site www.thewonderweeks.com]
BABY @ 6-7 WEEKS
- 6-7 Week Milestone: First smiles (a crucial milestone).
• Less floppy with more head/neck control (eg hold head up for a min)
• Plenty of tummy-time beneficial (personality impacts)
• Fixed gaze (focused stares)
• Pays close attention to surroundings (people, things to the side)
• Babbling, chuckling, gurgling, early laughs
• Communicating (coos, oohs, aahs)
• Cries real tears (tear ducts started working) – cries at an angry voice
• Socially responsive (more alert for longer)
• Starting to discover own hands
• Black/white toys appeal
• Enjoys brightly coloured pictures of simple shapes (circles, wavy lines)
• Fleeting emotions (rapidly changing, eg inconsolably crying to happy gurgles)
• Gets physically excited to see you - NEXT…
• By 7-8 Weeks vision extended from 20-25cm (8-10in) at birth, now to 30cm (12in)
• Around 8-9 Weeks the next Stormier period & Babe starts to display more complex feelings (anger, sadness, joy)
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