Congratulations on bringing your baby home from the hospital! The first six months of a baby's life include more milestones and new experiences than one could describe.
Tips For Choosing a Pediatrician and Feeding Your Baby
For many new mothers, finding a support system is a crucial component of adjusting to all the changes in your life. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville offer groups for new moms to meet each other and share tips. For details, visit the Classes & Events page. Additional resources are available through the Texas Health Moms Forums and our Facebook page.
One question that is universal to new moms is how to understand a baby's cries.
Many new parents worry that they won't be able to tell what their baby needs in the early stages. First off, crying is normal for babies. On average, they cry one hour and 45 minutes a day when they're 2 weeks old, and three hours a day when they're 6 weeks old. Most babies have a fussy period each day, usually early evening. It starts when they're about 3 weeks old and continues until they're about 12 weeks. Sometimes babies cry because they are hungry, tired, or uncomfortable, or because they want to be close to you. Sometimes babies cry for no reason at all.
One way to help understand your baby's cries is to remember the acronym PURPLE.
P= Peak pattern. Crying peaks during the second month of life.
U = Unexpected onset. Crying comes and goes unexpectedly, for no apparent reason.
R = Resistance to soothing. Crying continues despite all soothing efforts by caregivers.
P = Pain-like facial grimace. Infants look like they are in pain, even when they are not.
L = Long crying bouts. Crying can go on for 30 to 40 minutes, and longer.
E = Evening clustering. Crying occurs more in the late afternoon and evening.
Another common question is how to adjust to breastfeeding and ensure that your baby is getting all that he or she needs. Visit our Breastfeeding page for more information.
Yes, vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself from the flu. This year, you will need to get two flu vaccinations — a seasonal flu vaccine and an H1N1 vaccine. This will protect you from the different types of the flu that are around this year.
Get your heart pumping by dancing - in the comfort of your own living room or at a dance class, but steer clear of routines that call for leaps, jumps, or twirls.
Oh Baby!
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