Your recently born baby is already 4 weeks old. Do you already feel almost like a child care professional? You may feel a lot more confident than when you held your baby for the first time just a few weeks ago! Of course, there is a lot of trial and error ahead, but you begin to easily feed, help your baby burp, bathe and take more responsibility for the baby!
At 4 weeks, your baby is almost a month old and you have both gone through huge changes in a very short period of time.
You've endured sleepless nights, struggled with proper feeding, and learned to perform almost any task with one hand. But, like every new week, there is much more to come for both of you! Let's look at what you need to know about your 4-week-old baby.
Your 4 week old baby's development
Newborn baby: First 4 weeks of life
Feeding Basics
Breastfed babies should eat as much as they want at this age, but a general rule of thumb is about 340 to 907 grams of breast milk. Typically, 453 to 907 grams in 24 hours is good for formula-fed babies.
Baby Crying: Meanings Listen carefully and you will be able to decipher its different cries. Knowing what those whimpers, screams and yells mean can help you understand what your baby is trying to tell you.
Did you know? During the first few months, your baby will grow between 113 and 200 grams per week. Your 4-week-old baby will likely be able to react to loud noises by flinching, crying, or calming down. The cooing and smiling will not go unnoticed... and you will be able to catch a glimpse of both by the end of the first month. In the meantime, your baby will continue to communicate through crying.
Listen carefully and you will be able to decipher his different calls. A short, low, pleading cry usually means, “I’m hungry.” Whiny, nasal, incessant crying is your baby's way of telling you that he is overtired or uncomfortable. Bursts of crying alternating with fussy whimpering often signal boredom. The cry of "I'm hurt" begins suddenly with a loud, panicked, long scream, followed by repeated pauses and screams. Knowing what those whimpers, screams and yells mean can help you understand what your baby is trying to tell you.
When your baby isn't crying, be sure to encourage the development of these critical motor skills. The best way to start with them now is to spend more time on your tummy (with supervision, of course). Your child will be reluctant at first, so start with a few minutes a day. Eventually, you will work up to 15 or 20 minute sessions as your child's strength increases.
Physical development and growth of a four-week-old baby
This week plays a big role in the formation of the body. Right now the baby is beginning to adapt to the world around him , and your task is to help him with this, laying a reliable foundation of health for the future.
Physical development of the baby
- The baby's movements are not yet coordinated , the fists are clenched, the arms and legs are bent.
- The baby expresses dissatisfaction by crying and sudden movements, with colic he wiggles his legs, and with pain in the ears he turns his head.
- If you touch the baby's cheek , he begins to look for the breast with his mouth.
- The eyes are still blue (like all newborns due to the lack of melanin in the iris). When you secrete “your” pigment as you grow older, the color will, of course, change.
- Vision still lacks fullness , visibility is unclear, and it is difficult to concentrate the gaze.
- The first tears appear.
How much weight and height does the child gain in the 4th week?
By the end of the week, your baby will be a month old; this is the period during which the newborn should grow by 3 cm and gain 600-800 g.- girls usually grow to 47.8-59.5 cm, gain 2.7-6.2 kg, chest circumference changes to 33-39 cm, and head circumference to 33-40.1 cm.
- Boys “get fat” by 2.9-6.6 kg, stretch by 48.9-60.6 cm. Changes in head circumference amount to 33.8-40.8 cm, and chest circumference - up to 33.3-40, 2 cm.
How long does the baby sleep? Is a pacifier and rocking motion necessary?
A baby sleeps at 4 weeks
about 17-19 hours a day. Of these, about 8 hours fall on night sleep (at least 4) and 3-4 during the day.
What is most important for the baby now is the process of sucking, with which he gets up and lies down. Many mothers are interested in whether a pacifier is needed at all ? And is it worth rocking the baby to sleep?
Of course, the baby's pacifier is soothing . He must constantly suck either a finger, or a breast, or a pacifier, that is, at least something. This is both a reflex and a whole world for the baby.
A pacifier in this situation certainly helps to calm the child. But if the baby does not require it, or it falls out during sleep, then there is no point in it.
You should not teach your child to sleep with a pacifier all the time; then it will be very difficult to wean him off it. A pacifier is more of a help to the mother, but not to the baby. True, it will be even more difficult to wean off thumb sucking.
As for motion sickness , there is no point in discussing whether the baby will not get used to hands at this age. From birth to 3 months, he, more than ever, needs maternal attention and the feeling of your warmth.
There will be no harm from motion sickness , but only benefit. But after 3 months, you can gradually accustom yourself to “independence.”
Rocking becomes a basic need for a newborn. It allows children to strengthen their nervous system, synchronize brain biorhythms and the functioning of internal organs, and also helps train spatial coordination and develop the vestibular apparatus.
How much does a 4 week old baby eat? What to do if there is not enough breast milk?
At the 4th week, the baby eats (on average) 100-130 ml at a time with 6-7 feedings a day. A baby needs about 750-800 g of milk per day (1/5 of a baby’s weight is the norm of milk per day for a baby up to 2 months old). If there is a shortage of milk, the pediatrician recommends supplementing with formula.
What should a mother do if there is a milk deficiency to increase lactation?
- Increase the number of times your baby is put to the breast (the most effective way). Even if you have to apply it every hour (and every 2 hours at night). This regime should be set for a week and a half. As soon as the baby begins to pee more often and is calmer after feedings, you can return to the previous regime.
- Take lactogenic agents (after consultation with a doctor) in the form of lacto-teas, tea with milk, and milkweed.
- Don’t forget to alternate feeding, that is, with one breast, and the next feeding with the other.
- Remember that milk that is not sucked from the breast “burns out . The more the baby eats, the more milk will arrive.
How many times a day should a four-week-old newborn poop: stool norms
Newborn stool this week does not have any daily norm. A baby of the 1st month of life can dirty diapers 7-10 times a day (according to the number of feedings, plus/minus).
Moreover, artificial babies recover less often than babies who are breastfed. If the mixture is chosen incorrectly, stool retention can occur for up to 2 days.
Baby's daily routine at 1 month of birth
By the end of the 4th week, most babies have already decided on their sleeping and feeding patterns. up to 4-5 times a night for several months , in general they require milk 10-12 times per day.
A 4-week-old baby usually goes 2-3 hours between feedings , falling asleep/waking up at about the same time.
As for wakefulness, this time (after feeding) increases by 15-20 minutes.
Your 4 week old baby's growth
Are you breastfeeding? You can expect your baby to gain between 113 and 200 grams per week for the first few months. Formula-fed babies may get a little more.
But remember that children do not grow at a constant rate, but rather in spurts. You may notice that your baby demands the breast or bottle more often during these spurts (nursing moms call this group feeding), and this increase in demand is your baby's way of fueling the incredible growth his body is going through. This extra demand can wear you down, but it usually only lasts a day or two. A regular, more consistent feeding routine is just around the corner.
The health of your 4 week old baby
It's time for your baby's check-up in a month! Not only will you see how much your baby has grown, but you'll also get answers to dozens of questions that have arisen since you last went to the doctor when your baby was just a few days old.
Visiting a healthy child in a month
Your baby will receive a thorough physical examination from head to toe (including checking those reflexes, navel healing, and the circumcision site if applicable), and you will receive advice on feeding, sleeping, development, and baby safety.
Hepatitis B vaccination
Your baby may also receive a second dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (this will depend on what type of vaccine your doctor gives; if a combination vaccine is given instead of the individual vaccine, your baby will receive it instead at the 2-month visit)
Preventing PPD
And while you're in the office for your baby's checkup, your pediatrician may also examine you to see if you have any signs of postpartum depression.
How should a four-week-old baby develop physically?
By the four-week mark, your baby will begin to grow one inch per month and gain 140-200 grams per week.
Their hearing also fully develops after a month, which means they will begin to listen to the source of sounds and notice when you make loud noises in the room. With slightly stronger neck muscles, they should begin to briefly lift their head while lying on their stomach, and even turn it from side to side!
After a month, their vision should improve, as should their ability to concentrate. However, this requires a lot of effort, so at some points they may look askew. To help with this, hold something in front of their face and move it slowly from side to side, they should start to try to follow it.
How should a 4-week-old baby develop cognitively?
By now, your baby is starting to notice new things happening around him, including his arms and legs. Since they don't understand that they are a different person than you, they are unlikely to know exactly what their arms or legs are, but they will soon be able to coordinate their actions a little better.
In addition to being able to recognize sounds they heard in the womb, including the tune of your favorite TV show, they can also now recognize familiar faces. It's a good idea to put a mirror in front of them to make faces so they can even begin to recognize themselves. But don't be upset if they don't recognize you, as their memory is still developing.
Continue talking to your baby, allowing him to focus on your face and follow his movements. They should start copying them and even reach your face soon enough.
What injections should a 4-week-old baby receive?
You're a month early if you're concerned, babies don't need shots until they're two months old. When that time comes, and he'll be here sooner than you think, we have some tips for you on how to keep your child calm during vaccinations.
Fourth week of pregnancy: how you feel
Every woman's pregnancy is unique. And the sensations during a second pregnancy may differ from what you felt during your previous pregnancy. You may experience some of the common symptoms that accompany the fourth week of pregnancy:
- Bloating.
The main reason for this condition is a change in hormonal levels, namely an increase in the level of a hormone such as progesterone. Progesterone is the main hormone of pregnancy; it relaxes the muscles of the uterus, and at the same time has a similar effect on the intestinal walls. Peristalsis slows down and as a result, you experience unpleasant sensations - heaviness and bloating.
- Minor bleeding.
Some women may experience spotting during the fourth week of pregnancy, this is called implantation bleeding. Usually they are quite scarce and are not accompanied by additional symptoms. If the bleeding becomes profuse or there is pain in the lower abdomen, consult a doctor as soon as possible!
- Mood swings.
Mood swings may also occur during the fourth week of pregnancy. Unexpected mood swings - from depression to joy and back - are caused by an increase in hormone levels. They are felt most strongly in the first and third trimester. To improve your mood, do relaxation exercises, get a massage, try to get enough sleep and watch your diet.
- Breast tenderness.
Like the abdominal cavity, the mammary glands are preparing for an important job - producing food for the unborn baby. The structure of the mammary glands actively grows, the milk ducts and fat layer increase, which is why the breasts may increase in size.
- Nausea.
In the fourth week, some women experience morning sickness and more. The severity of this sensation manifests itself differently for everyone: some people just feel slightly nauseous, while others suffer from vomiting. If you also suffer from this, then you are not alone: nausea to one degree or another occurs in 85% of pregnant women. Fortunately, this unpleasant symptom often disappears in the second trimester.
- Light discharge.
The fourth week of pregnancy is characterized by heavy vaginal discharge. Normally, such discharge should be sticky, transparent or white. If you experience an unpleasant odor or itching in the vaginal area, consult your doctor.
- Fatigue.
If you feel completely overwhelmed, do not be surprised, but rather be patient - the feeling of fatigue will only grow further. Your body works at maximum strength around the clock to give your baby the opportunity to develop. In addition, the level of the hormone progesterone increases, which can also lead to increased fatigue. Feeling tired during pregnancy is natural, but in some cases, iron deficiency can manifest itself this way, so consult with your doctor about the need to take iron supplements, they will help prevent the development of anemia, which often manifests itself in the form of weakness and severe fatigue.
How long should a 4 week old baby sleep?
Your baby will sleep up to 18 hours a day for at least the first two months, of course this will be all day long and not just when you want to get some sleep! You may be starting to feel the effects of exhaustion at this stage, in which case here are some helpful sleep tips for new parents.
One great tip is to swaddle them perfectly if you haven't already, as this gives them the womb feeling they are so used to before breaking into the world.
Development: what can a 1 month old baby do?
A newborn baby sleeps more during the day than he is awake. Basic senses: vision, touch, smell. Sleeping takes up most of the day, so he doesn't have time to do much. Vision is gradually improving. But despite this, development does not stop. Vision, of course, is not yet very clear, but it is easy for the baby to distinguish his mother. During this period, the baby can:
- When his mother bows down, he sees her and makes a concentrated face. This indicates that vision is gradually improving.
- You can also test your vision and attention by smoothly moving objects in front of your baby. During this period of life, the newborn lingers on them and watches them. He also sees other objects, but does not pay attention to them.
- Vision allows you to distinguish not only objects, their shapes, but also their color. He is interested in bright and contrasting things. Vision allows you to recognize the mother’s face at a distance of 30-40 cm.
- The baby may still be yellow (due to increased bilirubin).
- You can start exercising with your baby during the day: if you put him on his tummy, the newborn will make attempts to raise his head. This type of exercise will allow you to develop your muscles faster.
- If you hold him in your arms, you will notice that the baby will soon weigh more.
It's not just vision that changes. Reflexes and even speech develop. Vision will allow you to be aware of what is happening and react.
By the end of this month of life, he should weigh 0.6-0.8 kg more. Body temperature is normalized. Most often, it is close to the indicators of an adult. When measured, the baby's temperature during the day should be between 36 and 37C. At this time you need to get vaccinated.
How much should a 4 week old baby eat?
You may now have an improved sleep schedule, which means fewer meal interruptions. However, late night eating is still quite common during periods, so keep those sleepless nights going.
To get an approximate feeding amount, weigh your baby and then feed him approximately 150-200 ml per kilogram. Although don't worry if your baby seems to be overeating, he knows how much he should or shouldn't eat at this stage and will only eat when he wants to. Whether you're breastfeeding or using formula, follow your baby's steps.
If you're having trouble breastfeeding, it may be time to seek help and make sure there's nothing else going on, so make an appointment with your GP and ask for support. In the meantime, check out these tips to find out the best positions to try while breastfeeding.
Child development stages
In the first month, the baby gets used to life outside the mother's womb. At the same time, it grows and changes at an astonishing rate. Here are the most interesting of these changes:
Growth and physical development of a newborn: If the baby looks a little “weird”, this is normal
In newborns, weight may decrease in the first few days due to the removal of excess fluid. Most often, this weight is gained back very quickly, after 10 days it reaches birth weight, which is called physiological weight loss. At pediatrician appointments, the child's body length, weight, and head circumference are measured. Using these indicators, the doctor monitors the baby’s growth rate. This article explains how child growth charts can help your doctor.
Surely you can’t stop looking at the new person in your life right now. Sometimes it may seem that he looks “weird”, because his body is still trying to adapt to the new reality. In the first few weeks, your baby may exhibit the following characteristics:
- In the first few days or weeks after birth, the baby may be covered with fine hairs (lanugo), then they disappear.
- Your child's skin may peel.
- Reddish spots, which are also called “salmon spots” or “stork bites,” may appear on the face or neck. Most often they go away within a few months.
- The child's genitals and nipple area may swell, but this goes away quickly.
- You can feel two soft areas on the baby’s head, usually one. These are fontanelles, areas of fusion of the bones of the skull, which are separated from the brain by a dense membrane.
- If you had a vaginal birth, your baby's skull may be slightly elongated and elongated. This happens because the bones of the skull are temporarily rearranged to make it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. Soon the baby's head will take on a more familiar shape.
- Most of the time, the baby sleeps curled up in a ball, just like in his mother's belly. Towards the end of the first month, he will begin to straighten his legs and arms and begin to stretch out.
Feelings: The baby likes when mom takes him in her arms
Touch is the most important sense for a newborn; by the nature of the touch it can determine the mother’s mood. In his mother's arms he feels calm and safe. Support your baby's head and neck so that his head does not roll in different directions due to a weak neck. The baby is soothed by motion sickness, and massage helps the baby and mother form an attachment.
The range of vision of a child at this age does not exceed 20-30 centimeters, but at the same time he sees his mother’s face when she takes him in her arms. Now he often moves his hands in front of his face and focuses on them. He notices the transition from darkness to light, but cannot yet clearly distinguish colors.
As a rule, newborns like high-pitched sounds and lisps. When mom talks to him, he can turn his head towards her.
Movements: The baby has powerful reflexes, especially grasping
At first, the child may make very sharp, jerky movements, but over the next few months he will learn to control them. The baby has some reflexes from birth; as he grows up, many of them fade away:
- Search.
If you stroke your baby's cheek or corner of his mouth, he turns his head toward your finger.
- Sucking.
The sucking reflex is innate, but sucking, breathing and swallowing at the same time takes practice, so your baby will need some time to get used to feeding.
- Moro reflex.
When a baby hears a sudden loud sound or his head suddenly changes position, he suddenly spreads his arms and legs apart and brings them together.
- Prehensile.
If you put a finger in a newborn's palm, he will grasp it tightly. However, you should not hold it like that - the baby does not yet control the grip strength and may suddenly let go of the finger.
- Automatic walking reflex.
By lifting the baby under the arms and placing him so that the soles touch the support, you will see that he will begin to move his legs.
- And others (crawl, knee, plantar, etc.)
Mental development of a child: His first smile will be remembered for a lifetime
At the beginning of the first month of life, the baby may smile in his sleep. It is not yet clear what exactly causes this reflex; perhaps the child reacts this way to some internal stimulus. And by the end of the month or at the beginning of the next, that real smile appears. The baby smiles in response to his mother’s smile or the sound of her voice. Over time, he will understand that with the help of a smile he can communicate with others.
Newborns cry to communicate that they are hungry or uncomfortable and to relieve tension. If your baby is crying but doesn't want to eat or burp, or doesn't need a diaper changed, he probably wants your attention. To calm him down, pick him up and talk to him in a gentle voice. Sometimes your baby's constant crying can be a symptom of something more serious, so if this worries you, take your baby to see your pediatrician.
Already in the first days and weeks of a baby’s life, you can get some idea of his character. Does he cry when he wets his diaper or is he okay with it? Does he get scared easily? If you already have children, at this stage you may notice differences in the character of the baby and his older brothers or sisters.
How much should a four week old baby pee?
Worried your child isn't getting enough regular exercise? Don't worry, as long as they go anywhere from one to ten times a day - plus wet their diaper at least six times a day - they'll be fine. Check out our poop color chart if you're concerned that something is wrong with what you find inside their diapers.
4-Week-Old Baby: How to Manage Colic If your baby cries for hours on end three times a week for at least three weeks, he may be suffering from colic. It affects up to 40% of babies, but it doesn't make it any easier to manage. Talk to your doctor if you notice your baby is crying for hours without reason, and check out our tips for managing colic.
Tummy time
Chances are, your baby spends a lot of time on his back, a position that you both are probably comfortable with (you because you've heard it's safest, and your baby because he's so used to it).
But here's a motto you should think about: "Back to sleep, tummy to play." Controlled tummy time (tummy time) allows baby to practice important gross motor skills such as lifting his head (this will only be a few seconds at this early stage) and moving it from side to side. In the beginning it should only be a few minutes a day, but eventually you will work up to 15 or 20 minute sessions as your child gains strength.
And speaking of lifting that head (which is still pretty heavy), the next time your baby is in a car seat or booster seat, see if he can hold it up for a while without help (you can help a little, by installing supporting headrests on the sides).
Rules for caring for a newborn 4 weeks of life: what should a mother know?
How long should you bathe a baby, and what’s new in bathing a newborn at 4 weeks of age?
- In the 4th week, the baby should be bathed every day for 3-5 minutes . Moreover, use soap and foam a maximum of 2 times a week.
- You can wash your hair 1-2 times a week (using baby soap or special shampoo).
- You can now bathe not in boiled water, but in running water.
You should not bathe with herbs every day, because any herbal mixture will dry out the skin . It is also advisable to remember that for a newborn, herbs (even when bathing) can be a very strong medicine.
To avoid allergic reactions, do not overuse phyto-baths. Do this only when necessary (for sweat rashes, diaper rash). Do not forget that, for example, chamomile is a potential allergen, and the series dries out the skin excessively. For little ones with allergies, a bath of nettles or birch leaves is suitable.
Buy only “tear-free” shampoo (pH neutral), and liquid foam is more convenient for washing (it does not dry out the skin like soap).
Miliaria and diaper rash: treatment and prevention
The skin of a 4-week-old baby is still too tender, and the baby himself is quite weak, so no frivolity, always be on the alert and remember the rules of hygiene in time.
What you need to know about diaper rash and heat rash
- Do not leave your baby in wet diapers for a long time, but change them immediately.
- Do not wait until the diaper becomes too heavy to lift, and change it every 2 hours, unless the baby has soiled it “the color of mustard,” and also immediately after the stool itself.
- If diaper rash and heat rash are not treated, then in addition to redness, your baby will also get blisters, so be careful.
- In hot weather, try not to use diapers.
- Rinse baby clothes thoroughly and wash only with powders approved for newborns.
- When swaddling, treat diaper rash and heat rash with rich baby cream, powder or other product prescribed by your doctor.
- Take air baths more often.
- Don’t be overzealous with clothes, because the “cabbage” principle will not do any good. When a baby overheats, prickly heat is inevitable.
- Bathe your child every day (in summer it would be good to do this twice) and be sure to wash it with running water every time you change the diaper.
- Wear only cotton clothes for your baby.
Crusts (scabs) on the head of a newborn
This is a feature of the 1st month of life, scaly, flaky yellowish-brown crusts on the scalp. It is quite difficult to remove such scabs, and many parents suffer with them for almost a year, or even more.
Never rip off or pick out these crusts. The risk of injuring the skin and giving the baby an infection is too high!
How to remove these crusts?
- After bathing, remove carefully with a cotton swab soaked in sterilized oil (vegetable oil).
- Soak a gauze napkin (sterile) with boiled and cooled vegetable oil (let the size of the napkin be the same as the area of the skin with crusts), squeeze, apply to the skin, secure with a cap and leave for 3-4 hours. Remove while bathing and wash your head with soap. Remove the remaining crusts for the next bath.
- Lubricate the scalp with sterile vegetable oil and gently massage it with a soft brush. Afterwards, you need to bathe and wash your baby’s hair. Treat pink areas of skin under the removed scabs with cream/ointment (D-Pantinol, for example).
Flat spot and bald spot on the back of the head: how to avoid and what to do if a spot appears?
If you notice a bald spot on the back of your baby's head, remember that there is no reason to panic. This phenomenon is quite normal for 90 percent of babies under 6 months of age.
- Firstly, a baby at this age spends most of the time with the back of his head on the pillow and turns his head, and the hairs are simply wiped off.
- Secondly, these hairs are still too thin and soft, and the hair follicles are weak. This fluff will be replaced by new hairs, thicker and tougher, by the year.
The only reason for concern is the risk of developing rickets.
But, in addition to a receding hairline, there are other signs of rickets
- Heavy sweating.
- Large area and distinctness of the receding hairline.
- Insomnia.
- Unjustified anxiety of the baby.
If your bald spot and your baby's condition worries you, contact your pediatrician.
Newborn Sleep Patterns
The fact is that newborn babies do not have a regular sleep schedule; It usually takes them six to 12 weeks to establish a solid 24-hour schedule, with the longest period of sleep occurring at night. Also, keep in mind that breastfed babies have a physical need to breastfeed approximately every two to three hours during the newborn phase (formula-fed babies approximately every three to four hours).
The good news is that naps decrease as baby gets older, with the most noticeable decrease occurring between 3 and 6 months of age. By 5 or 6 months, most full-term, healthy babies can sleep well (most) of the night.
Baby's noisy breathing
Overhearing your baby's changing repertoire of sneezes, squeaks and snorts is normal when it comes to a newborn and is not a sign of anything to worry about. Your baby's symphonic breathing is fine.
So try taking a deep “om” breath yourself and find out what baby breathing is:
1) Variability. If you pay close attention, you'll probably notice that your baby's breathing is just as variable as your own: slower when he's relaxed and faster when he's excited.
2) Speed. When a baby wakes up, he may take more than 60 breaths per minute, especially if he is crying. This is much faster than adults, and this is completely normal.
3) Pauses. If you watch your baby's chest rise and fall while he sleeps (of course, you know this isn't necessary), you may notice that his breathing stops altogether for a few seconds. Not to worry. A sleeping newborn will often hold his breath for five to ten seconds and then start working again.
4) Noises. All this snorting and grumbling happens because babies can breathe through their noses.
This is good because it allows them to breathe and breastfeed at the same time (“Look, mom, no hands!”). But breathing through the nose can be problematic when something blocks the only air passage. It doesn't occur to a typical newborn baby to open their mouth as an alternative way to get oxygen.
Postpartum back pain
Here are some tips on how to carry your baby to minimize postpartum pain:
1) Instead of bending at the waist to lift your baby, bend at the knees. And keep your wrists straight when you pick up your baby.
2) If the baby rests too much on the hip (as the baby gets bigger), this will also only lead to pain - so don't even start this habit.
3) Instead of constantly holding your baby, try wearing him in a carrier or sling. This not only calms him down, but also soothes (and frees) your sore hands.
4) Switch arms so each one gets a workout (and your body doesn't get sore).
Sore nipples during feeding
Sore, sore or even cracked nipples are common battle wounds for new breastfeeding moms. But take heart—your nipples will “harden” over time.
To relieve soreness and heal any cracks, you can generously apply ultra-purified, medical-grade lanolin (such as Lansino Ointment) to your nipples after each feeding. Chilled, wet tea bags are very comforting. Also, change your nursing pads frequently to keep bacteria out.
It may take a week or more to fully heal, so be patient, Mom. In the meantime, it's actually best to continue breastfeeding your baby despite the discomfort. (You can start with the less sore breast, but don't choose the more sore one; sometimes it's easier to switch breasts after they've relaxed and your milk is flowing.)
Avoid skipping or limiting nursing sessions because not only can the resulting engorgement make your soreness worse, but milk that doesn't flow can clog the ducts, causing mastitis, a breast infection accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms. severe pain, hardness, or redness of the breast. It can be treated simply with antibiotics, but if left untreated it can lead to an abscess that will require immediate medical attention.
You should also call your doctor if your nipples are pink, itchy, crusty or burning, which could be a sign of thrush, a common yeast infection that develops due to lactose in milk and can affect both mother and baby. (Check the inside of your baby's cheeks or tongue for a cheesy coating, which is often a clue.) Again, if you or your baby are affected, breastfeeding does not need to be interrupted, but the condition should not be left in place. without treatment. Ultimately, you don't want your milk supply to decrease.
Your C-section scar
If you gave birth by C-section, you'll have a mark from the incision that was stapled or sewn shut and covered with a dozen little pieces of surgical tape, like a white train track on your belly.
Don't worry. Although they seem huge now, most scars are between 4 and 6 inches long and are usually found below the bikini line. But you will likely need to bandage the area before your first postpartum doctor's visit a few weeks after giving birth.
About six weeks after surgery, your scar and incision pain will be significantly reduced (although it may be itchy as it heals).
Explore Further: Week 5
