Congratulations Mama, your babymoon has now been going on for two months! A newborn’s brain grows about five centimetres in the first three months of development and at this point, she is learning a lot.
Tips for Breastfeeding a Baby at Week 9
When she breastfeeds, make sure she’s not swallowing too much air as the gas can make your baby uncomfortable. The tips below can help prevent them from swallowing up too much air when feeding:
- When breastfeeding make sure your baby’s lips enclose around your areola.
- When using a bottle with expressed milk, ensure that the baby’s lips are fastened on the wide base of the teat, not just the top. Buy bottles with teats that closely resemble the shape of your nipple, to avoid nipple confusion.
- If your baby has gas, burp her before and after feeds, especially when changing sides.
Also Read: Breastfeeding or Formula? Finding What Works for You
Talking to Your Newborn
For 9 months before birth, your baby listened to your voice, was soothed by its sound, and has since preferred your voice to any other. In fact, by the time of birth, babies cry in a similar intonation to their parent’s language.
For this reason keep talking to her, singing to her, smiling at her and interacting with her normally. Look into her eyes and chat with her about your activities, family, and loved ones, such as narrating to her what’s going on in her surroundings and how you and your family feel about her. There is no need to use baby talk or ‘gaa-gaa goo-goo’ sounds, although newborns may prefer higher-pitched and slower speech.
Read her stories daily as part of her evening routine. This will prime her to develop good reading habits as a foundation for lifelong learning.
Related: Your Newborn Baby at Week 8
You at 9 Weeks of Being a Mum
Having a baby can be overwhelming, especially in these first few weeks when they’re still a newborn and you’re recovering. It can be an emotional roller coaster with your feelings ranging from euphoric to anxious, to sad to gleeful to downright exhausted. This is quite normal and remember, mothering is a journey which you will need the assistance, support and understanding of your immediate family, friends and spouse.
If the symptoms of overwhelm become unbearable, you might want to go over this postnatal depression checklist and seek professional support if you feel something is off beyond the baby blues.
If the baby is having a lot of trouble sleeping, it is a good time to contact a sleep specialist for advice.
Postnatal Care With Multiple Layers of Support for You and Your Baby
Recovery after childbirth is different for every woman and child but one thing is for sure; it goes beyond clinical checkups. Malaica’s postnatal care is designed to take care of every aspect of your recovery including physical, mental, and emotional well being.
When you join our post natal care program, you get access to a virtual psychologist for mental health support, online community of newborn mums, and a 24/7 emergency hotline for mothers receiving care at Malaica.
Book a consultation today to learn how we can support your motherhood journey and give your baby a healthy start in life.
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