Last January, there were a lot of times when I freaked out when my daughter’s temperature would rise. She is more prone to having convulsions, since she already had one episode last December 2017. This is the reason why I am so hands-on when it comes to her health and nutrition. I  guess being a mom means having a lot of times when you freak out, because you don’t know what the #3!! is happening! I know that I am constantly learning new mommy tips and tricks as my daughter gets older. One thing that I am thankful for are the other mommies who have given me advice during times when I would freak out. So as a sign of gratitude, I am also sharing my tips on How Not to Freak Out When You have a Newborn Baby!

What to expect!

I remember feeling happy and excited to see my baby while waiting in the delivery room. After 9 months, you’re finally seeing your newborn baby — that human being that you grew inside your belly! It sounds unbelievably amazing, right? But, let’s face it! I’m sure your are also feeling a little bit of fear and anxiety on how to handle a baby properly. This is your first time as a mom, and you don’t want to make a mistake. I was like that! I wanted things to be perfect! haha! Many first-time mothers are anxious on how to breastfeed, bathe and calm their newborn babies. Today, I’m sharing an overview of things that I did and some ways on how not to freak out when you have a newborn baby. Knowledge is power!

How to breastfeed?

Place your baby’s body towards your breast. As soon as he opens his mouth, let him suck your nipple. His mouth should also cover the areola area aside from the nipple. Hold your breast for support. Be patient as this would require some practice to successfully nurse him. To be honest with you, my nipples hurt like crazy during the first week. But eventually, she (baby) got it right and we manage to pull through our challenge! You can breastfeed him/her as frequent as possible for more milk to be produced. The more demand there is, the more your body will create supply. So when I had my baby, I would feed as often as possible (since I knew I wasn’t gifted in producing a lot of milk). Target on nursing him for 8-12 times in a day.

How to bathe your newborn?

During the first month, it’s fine to only give sponge baths. The real bath can be given after the umbilical cord falls off. This usually happens on the third week. When giving him a bath, prepare first the things that you need near you. These are baby wash, towel and wash cloth. When you wash his body, focus on one area first. Try to work from head to toe. One hand should be on your baby and the other hand to wash him up. As soon as you’re finished, lift him/her up from his armpits. Place the baby on a towel and then wrap this around him/her.

How to calm your baby when crying?
Your newborn might be crying because of hunger or he/she is irritated with his wet diapers, or just feeling bored. He can make you frantic with his non-stop crying. Before rushing him to the hospital, you might want to try to comfort him by patting him on the back, swinging or carrying him on his side. If those don’t work, he might just be asking for some silence to doze off and finally fall asleep. My daughter always slept in the car! Cars are amazing for that moment when you don’t know what to do. Just drive around!

How to carry the Baby?

Guess what? We never used a stroller when our daughter was an infant. She hated all the strollers that we purchased. My tip is, just buy the stroller when the baby is there so they can test it out. We made a mistake by buying (because we were excited!) and being super ready even before the baby was born. A nice and super functional item that we bought (but test our first) are baby carriers. My carrier was like a belt with a seat. I would just carry the baby while she’s sitting. That seat acted like extra pair of hands! It was so cool!

Other moms use a baby sling carrier. This is another option that you can look at.

So there! These are just some tips that I’d like to share with you so that you don’t panic. Believe me, everything will be okay! 🙂 I used to think of the worst situations, but then I finally accepted that I beat myself too much when things (uncontrollable) go wrong.  So the best advice that I can give is stay calm and don’t freak out, event if you have no clue on what’s happening. When you’re calm, you have presence of mind, and you’ll be able to think  things through.

Do you have things on your How Not to Freak Out When You have a Newborn Baby list? I’d love to hear more about what you have on your list! Share it with the other parents or expecting parents who are reading this. Comment on the comment section below 🙂