Development Milestones for a Baby at Week 8
Your newborn’s eyes are steadily learning to see and instead of a blurry haze with indistinct figures, he is now beginning to discern certain details. He is still seeing in black and white, and while his vision is nowhere near 20:20, you’ll notice him focusing more on faces and smiling widely. Your baby at week 8 may now begin to notice differences, such as someone wearing glasses, bold shapes and patterns or a someone with a dramatically different skin tone. His eyes may also be able to focus on an object above his car seat or his bed roughly 6 inches above his face.
He may now be able to lift up his head while lying on his stomach, and he definitely will know your voice and respond to it by making more noise or being quiet. Depending on how much you introduced your 8-weeks-old baby to music in the womb, he will take notice of music at this stage and it may even soothe him when he is fussy or upset.
The two soft hollow spots, known as fontanelle, in the back of your baby’s head will now be less noticeable but will still need a few more weeks to close. If they are slightly indented, it could be a sign of dehydration.
Related: Your Newborn Baby at Week 7
You at Eight Weeks of Being a Mum
In case your skin changed drastically after childbirth, it will now begin to return to its original state and pigmentation. Some women experience hyper-pigmentation due to the huge release of hormones to trigger birth but you shouldn’t be alarmed because it’s temporary. To aid in your body’s recovery, drink plenty of clear liquids in addition to the other things you are taking in.
Some mothers report that incorporating these fluids in their post-baby diet has helped their bodies balance the hormones after childbirth:
- Dill seeds infused in water
- Clear chicken
- Beef and vegetable broth
- Tulsi tea
- Chamomile tea.
Protecting Your Skin After Childbirth
If you are going outside, there are some beauty and health tips you can implement to take care of your skin including:
- Protect your skin from the sun using sunblock or similar natural alternatives because it’s still sensitive at this point.
- Don’t worry about stretch marks if they have begun to appear. Applying oil or butter regularly throughout pregnancy reduces them. It’s not too late if you hadn’t started, but remember, there’s no guarantee they will disappear. Your best bet is to make peace with your marks and see them as a mark of honor.
- Apply oils and butters to relieve the itching.
Should you tie your belly to help return your waistline? Our midwives advise against it.
Are you ready for exercise to lose your after-baby belly at 8 weeks after birth? It depends on what your doctor advises during your check-up. But do stretches, find gentle ways to get moving and work to get back to your exercise regimen as soon as you can.
Got More Questions for Your Newborn at Week 8?
Beyond the clinical checkups, Malaica’s postnatacl care also takes the time to answer all your questions, listen to your concerns, and demystify your worries and doubts. Whether you’re worried about your baby’s growth, uncertain about their feeding, managing colic, having trouble getting them to sleep, or wondering about your recovery, we believe that there’s no too small a question when it comes to postpartum care.
Book a consultation or send us a message at +254 746 610643 to learn more about Malaica and how we can support you and your baby as you both grow and thrive.
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