Time sure does fly by! You have officially made it through the first month so go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. (Especially if you have a baby with colic.) Here are a few things I've learned that may help you or sound familiar to you:
~Sleep. You now may notice that you are able to function on a lot less sleep than you used to. Its amazing how your body adjusts. If you are having trouble sleeping at night and turning your brain off try some all natural sleepy time tea. It'll relax you and help you sleep and its safe for breastfeeding. You may also notice your baby slowly being able to sleep longer in the night which is good. Take advantage!
~Milestones. Your baby is now more interactive. You'll see him/her looking at its surroundings more and will start to coo more. Sometimes I like to lay him on his back and put him under the little play mat and let him look at the different shapes and colors. He loves it! He/she may also finally give you a smile that will melt your heart. I know it did for me! Your baby may also start to be able to left his/her head and hold it up for a few seconds. Just make sure you still support their neck. The muscles aren't matured yet and will still flop around.
~Growth spurt. You may notice that your baby will eat more than he/she usually does. If he/she is fussy after you've fed, and burped them really well and changed their diaper, it could be that they are still hungry. Don't worry, try and give them more. If you're bottle feeding, do about 2 ounces. Feed him/her 1 ounce, burp them and see how they feel. I know you've been trying to get them on a feeding schedule but if they are hitting a growth spurt, all bets are off the table. Its a good thing, it means your baby is growing and thriving. If they refuse the boob or the bottle, try giving them a pacifier. Sometimes they like the soothing of the sucking motion.
~Congestion. Yes, it happens. Especially with the seasons starting to change. If you notice your baby being congested try these few tricks my doctor told me: 1.) the nose aspirator. NO baby likes it but its important to clear their nasal passages to help them breath. 2.) saline spray. It's no fun to administer, but it'll help. Apply a few drops in each nose and let sit for a few minutes. Then use the nose aspirator again. I like to use the one by "little remedies" which is all natural and totally safe. 3.) Have a cool air humidifier ready. Fill it with water and turn it on near where they are sleeping. You can use the menthol vapor pads in it if they are really congested. Just make sure you get the ones specifically for babies and read the instructions. Some have a weight requirement. 4.) Prop them up while they sleep. If you've got your baby in the crib, place a couple of pillows under the mattress on one side to elevate their head. If they are in the bassinet try setting them closer to the top and roll up one of their swaddle cloths and put under their heads to angle them upward. We have our baby in the swing when he sleeps (see my reasoning under my post about colic) so we just adjust the seat upwards a bit. However, if you notice your baby having a runny nose, rattling chest, and a fever you need to take him/her in to the doctor. There have been a ton of reports of a respiratory infection going around and its better to be safe than sorry.
Enjoy your baby and all the new things they are adjusting to!
xoxo,
Alex
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