At Two Months

He starts to roll over from his tummy onto his back.

Many parents are surprised or even alarmed at the sight of their newborn. It is important to understand that the effects of birth are usually temporary and the baby’s looks improve rapidly. Common characteristics include:

Physiological jaundice

Many babies develop ‘physiological jaundice’ on the second or third day after birth. The liver normally breaks down the red blood cells, producing pigment called bilirubin. Immature livers in some babies, take a few days to cope with the breakdown and excretion of bilirubin, which causes an excessive build-up in the blood and makes the skin and eyes yellow. A minority of newborns require testing, and even fewer need phototherapy.

Hello, world!

Your newborn is here and you’re busy getting to know each other. For baby, it’s all one big adventure. For parents, it’s a beautiful and challenging learning experience. Your newborn baby can see, hear, feel, smell and taste. Baby’s main needs right now are feeding, sleeping and being soothed.

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

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

Your baby is discovering their emotions from birth.

Baby is growing and getting excited about, well, just about everything. Especially playtime and all the things hands can touch. Hands are so fascinating! He reaches out for things, although he often overshoots the mark.

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.

Parent-infant interaction

Interaction with your baby begins before she is born. You usually feel life at about 20 weeks into pregnancy as light, fluttering sensations.

First teeth! Consult your dentist about fluoride for your child’s teeth. Until a child learns to brush his teeth, the mother must clean them for him.

A Breastfeeding experience which is enjoyable and beneficial to both mom and baby depends on a relaxed, well-nourished mother who approaches this experience positively and with confidence. 

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.

Apgar:
A system of evaluating a newborn’s physical condition by assigning a score (0,1, 2) to each of the following criteria:
heart rate; respiratory effort; muscle tone;response to stimuli; and skin colour.
The evaluation is performed at one minute and again at five minutes after birth.

Babies all have individual temperaments, which will affect their sleep patterns. Some are sleepy and others more alert and wakeful.

Clinics and primary health services are freely available in most countries in Southern Africa. Locate your closest clinic and the telephone number from your local authority or hospital.

Check your basic progressive exercise programme with your caregiver.

Use your hospital stay to learn how to bath your baby. Babies usually have their first bath about an hour after birth. This may vary slightly, according to hospital policy and the condition of the baby.