Check-up

Thrush is a fungal infection and can be found in your baby’s mouth, nappy area or under the chin. The fungus lives on the skin and usually causes no harm, but when conditions are favourable, it thrives and causes havoc.

The normal temperature of a healthy infant varies between 36–37°C. A slight rise in temperature may be due to a cold or a mild digestive upset. The baby’s general appearance and behaviour is your guide.

A baby’s bowels usually work within the first 24 hours after birth. The first stool, meconium, is blackish-green and sticky, with no smell. The colour changes to yellowish-brown over the next few days. Green stools are not a problem unless the baby loses his appetite and develops a temperature with diarrhoea, or starts to vomit.

Getting enough sleep during the first months of your baby’s life means adjusting to your own new sleep habits and those of your baby. Here are a few things that might help with getting baby to sleep and to help you get sleep:

The average stay in hospital is about three days, if there are no complications. Use the time to rest and gather as much information as possible. Alternatively, you may want to consider early discharge.

After the birth your body undergoes rapid physical and hormonal changes. Your caregivers will carefully check on your temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure during the first hours and days after the birth. They will monitor the amount and character of bleeding, the position of the fundus and uterus, and the functioning of your bladder and bowel.

Check your basic progressive exercise programme with your caregiver.

Becoming a parent is full of Excitement

The first six to eight weeks after your baby’s birth is known as the post-partum period, a time of physical and emotional readjustment. Your reproductive organs need to return to their pre-pregnant state, and the family has to adjust to a new baby and the demands that this brings.

Your baby will smile deliberately, especially for his parents. He can hold his head up momentarily, and focus on and follow moving objects.

If you are ever concerned about your baby’s health, behaviour or development, consult your doctor or clinic sister. It is better to be safe than sorry. Rather obtain treatment earlier than later.

Taking care of a newborn baby is a full time job which requires dedication from you and your family. So when you’re planning to go back to work, you can only imagine how much that’s going to test your organisational skills!

An action plan for your family and friends.

By 2 months, he can lift his head when on his tummy and hold his head up when held at his shoulder.

Birth weight depends on several factors, including the mother’s nutritional status and genetic disposition. The average weight for a newborn is around 3,3 kg.

you have decided to bottle feed your baby

Your baby lifts his head up when lying on his tummy. His hands can grasp a small rattle, and he has started laughing.

A young baby’s skin passes through many phases, from clear to spotty (rash), to peach-like. This may be due to the transition from a protected environment in the womb to the outside world. Rashes are common and will go away in time.

Nestlé Start Strong Stay Strong aims to provide support to encourage your breastfeeding journey.

Your baby is discovering their emotions from birth.