The 5th week of a baby's life: everything you need to know
- · Mother's health
- · The development of the child
- · Our tips
- · Not to be forgotten
Mother's health
5 Week after birth
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Whether you are breastfeeding or not, pay attention to your nutrition. Do not try to go on a diet, since you are still not perfectly fit immediately after giving birth. Don't eliminate sugars and fats from your diet, rather try to limit them. Continue to eat in a variety of ways (fruit, vegetables, starchy foods, meat, fish, legumes and dairy products). And don't forget the Omega 3, present in some oils (walnut, rapeseed), in oil fruits (almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts) and in fatty fish.
The development of the child
You still perceive your baby as a part of you and you are still in total symbiosis, it is normal. He begins to smile and look at the colorful toys more carefully. It also begins to follow the objects that move with the gaze.
The colic of the newborn
Your baby may have digestive problems that prevent him from being completely well when awake. This type of colic, frequent in the first three months, is painful and can scare him. To alleviate his suffering, you can make him a special herbal tea, put a hot water bottle on his stomach and cuddle him. Generally, these ailments disappear at the beginning of the fourth month.
But if the crises are very prolonged and occur mainly during the night hours, it is recommended to use products containing fennel and chamomile that help the reabsorption of air and reduce the painful sensation (in pharmacies and herbalists there is a wide choice) . Belly massages can also help the baby calm down. Furthermore, in the event that there is difficulty in evacuation, it becomes important to promote intestinal regularity with the help of stimulation (in a small child it is sufficient to insert the tip of the thermometer into the bottom).
It is no longer considered appropriate to change the type of milk in case of artificial breastfeeding, and it is absolutely forbidden to interrupt breastfeeding when the baby eats from its mother.
Skin problems
- Your baby's cheeks may be full of red pimples with white tips: this is the "newborn acne, probably caused by the effect of maternal hormones on your body. It is benign and will pass on its own within a few weeks. To avoid aggravating it, temporarily avoid applying greasy creams to your baby's face.
-The milky crusts they are yellowish scales that form on the scalp, eyebrows and, sometimes, on the child's body. Sometimes they are irritating ... but avoid scratching them and washing the baby's skull every day using a suitable shampoo. Usually healing occurs spontaneously within the third-fourth month and is facilitated with some useful measures to eliminate the scales present and to prevent their formation. You can also pass on the scalp some cotton soaked in olive oil or sweet almond or petroleum jelly or specific emollients for cradle crust sold in pharmacies which, by thinning the sebum and softening the crusts, facilitate its detachment. To remove the crusts it is advisable, once the oil has been applied, to gently wipe with a fine-toothed comb and then dab with a cloth. Finally, dab with borage oil which is useful for rebalancing the production of fat by the sebaceous glands.
- The gluteal erythema affects the buttocks and thighs. It can be caused by prolonged contact of the baby's skin with feces or urine contained in the diaper.
For this, it is preferable to change your baby often, avoid using wipes, apply a suitable cream on his skin and leave him without a diaper as much as possible.
Our advice
The birth cards
It's time to send out the tickets to announce the birth of your baby! Tradition has it that these cute cards indicate the baby's name and weight. And of course, don't forget to write down your coordinates!
There are those who opt for luxury, having them printed in the typography, those who associate them with sugared almonds or a nice little favor, or those who are satisfied with the cheap and trendy web version: the choice is vast! Generally, it's nice to put a photo of the baby And miraculously: don't send them too late!
The nights
Is your baby still unable to sleep through the night? Quiet: it is common in such young children. You must know that eliminating the night feed by letting him cry will certainly not make him sleep. On the other hand, help him to recognize the difference between day and night, you will see that little by little his sleep rhythms will adjust.
For daytime naps, turn off the lights, but don't close the blinds or roll the blinds down completely. It is important for the child to know that it is daytime. In winter, when it gets dark early, a light on in the corridor and the sound of voices in the house will make him realize that life continues outside his room.
In the evening, on the other hand, make sure that his room gets dark (especially in summer, when the days get longer) and leave only a little light on. Pamper your little one, talk to him softly, sing him a lullaby ... and make a little noise as you leave the room. Little by little, he'll know when it's time to sleep.
If she can't fall asleep despite all your efforts, that's not normal. It is good that you know that his cries can have different causes: thirst, hunger, but also painful colic or gastric reflux, buttocks erythema, breathing difficulties. If in doubt, consult your pediatrician.
Not to be forgotten
Make an appointment with the pediatrician for the second month
Birth certificate to be sent to the employer
Arrange for vaccines to be done by the 3rd month.
Send birth cards
Apply to the INPS and the employer for an optional leave from work
To learn more read also: The second month of the baby's life
See also: The evolution of the baby in pictures. From the first weeks to birth
