Tips for the First Night Home
Congratulations! You carried, birthed, and welcomed home your baby… now what. Going home from the hospital with your newborn is an exciting stage but non the less often a bit terrifying! Today we are here to talk about the first night home with a newborn and tips for the first night home.
You’re home; now what?
The first night and day home can be overwhelming and exciting! Your new bundle of joy is now here, and after birth, you’ve finally made it home, but what now? While in the hospital, there are nurses and doctors to ask each question that can come up, but at home, this is a different story. We like to remind families that the first night home is often the hardest, as your little one is still becoming accustomed to life outside your body, and you are brand new parents!
Tips to help make the first night easier
- Decide a plan of attack– Before the night starts, think about your goals for the night. Are you going to wake up to feed your little one and wake your partner for diaper changes and support? Or is your plan to let them get rest and handle the night and try to nap in the morning? Having a rough plan ahead of time can help.
- Set yourself up with water and snacks for the night- This can be hugely beneficial, especially for breastfeeding parents. Having snacks and hydration overnight is essential when spending the majority of the night awake.
- Set up your baby tracking app– It can be hard to remember the next day what exactly happened overnight when it comes to feedings and sleep windows. Try to record this information from day one, so that you can look it over in days to come.
- Try to keep your house warm– Typically families turn the heat down or off in their homes overnight while sleeping. Because you will be awake and in and out of bed you may want to keep the heat at a higher temperature than normal to ensure your baby and yourself don’t get cold.
- Swaddle- Swaddle, swaddle, and then swaddle again! Swaddling is a great resource, especially for newborns. Babies are used to being cozy and confined so being in the world can be a huge adjustment. Swaddling will help a newborn feel secure.
- Save the phone number for the labor and delivery advice nurse hotline in your phone- Saving the number for the advice nurse ahead of time is a great idea. Remember, they are there to help, and if you think something is not right or are worried, call!
It gets easier over time
The first night or a few nights home with a newborn can feel overwhelming. While at the moment it may feel like you are stuck in time forever, it really does get easier over time. Your baby, partner, and self will adjust and learn together as the days go on. If you are ever in a spot where you feel you may benefit from support or additional rest, give us a call!
Thank you for reading this weeks’ blog, “Tips for the first night home.” For more information on all things pregnancy, postpartum, and parentgood, visit our weekly posts.
