Development Milestones for a 12-Week-Old Baby
Your baby at week 12 will start making chewing motions in preparation for the day she begins to eat. This can sometimes be mistaken for hunger cues and some well-meaning friends or relatives may give you unsolicited breastfeeding advice, say that your baby is still hungry or that your milk is not filling enough.
That is not true. So long as your baby is putting on weight each month and is wetting enough diapers, your body is producing enough milk for the baby. To confirm whether your baby is getting enough milk, download our free diaper record log and track their output.
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
Keep her routine consistent to provide your baby with a sense of stability and security and to help her develop good sleeping habits.
For instance, even if your baby is not tired by 5 pm, go ahead and bathe her at that time if that is your normal bathing schedule. Give her the usual massage, feed and dim the lights by 6:30 as usual. You will find she can settle herself and sleep on this regular schedule.
Read More: Your Baby at 3 to 5 Months: Development Milestones and Life Changes
You at 12 Weeks of Being a Mum
Whether you gave birth through Caesarean or through a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor likely took a beating. Your body will not return 100% to its previous tone, but doing kegel exercises definitely helps. Your bladder and your spouse will thank you for consistently investing this effort.
Some mums also worry that the weight gain is permanent but this is simply not true. There are a few tips and things you can do to shed the baby weight including having a healthy diet and doing exercises that your body can handle.
Dealing With Sore or Cracked Nipples
Another issue you might have faced by this point is sore nipples. Breastfeeding support specialists generally agree that sore nipples are a sign that something is wrong, possibly your baby not latching properly. You can watch YouTube videos to see how the baby should latch, but the best solution is to get a breastfeeding support specialist to help you.
Malaica’s postnatal care also includes lactation support including helping with poor latching and advice on improving your milk supply.
If you do suffer from cracked or sore nipples, express some of your milk and apply it to the nipple to help with healing. Avoid lanolin or other creams as they may feed the thrush.
Cracked nipples can be a sign of thrush or candida, which would also be present in your baby’s mouth. Mention this and have your health care provider check for candida during your well-baby visit. Breast or nipple pain during breastfeeding is also not normal so get professional help for this as well.
For healthier living, try to limit your intake of sugary and starchy foods because they feed the candida.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Remember, you are not alone and you don’t have to do this alone. Get insights and interact with other mothers because they might have gone through the same thing. Malaica also has an exclusive WhatsApp support group for breastfeeding mothers where you can find reassurance and tips that worked for other mums.
Curious about other different ways we can support your postpartum recovery and empower your baby’s growth? Book a consultation to learn more.
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