As soon as the little bundle of joy arrives, life becomes no less than a roller coaster ride for a new mom. For many women, the experience brings a lot of joy and, at the same time, tremendous stress because they are clueless about the fine art of raising a baby!
Raising a child is an instinctive process and you improve with time. While women improve as mothers, they also make mistakes which may make matters worse for themselves, the baby and the family. Many problems can be prevented by avoiding these common mistakes young mothers make:
Worrying too much Panic triggers are endless for a new mom. Is the baby sleeping too much? Feeding too little? Crying too much? Feeling cold? Pooping too often? Throwing up milk far too much?
For a new mother, it’s very important to remain calm. You’ll breeze through a lot of situations when you believe that you are better equipped to handle your newborn than anyone else. You shouldn’t obsess over your baby if it’s nursing every two hours on an average, pooping at least once a day or even after every feed, sleeping about 16 hours and does not have temperature.
Mental stress affects lactation and causes fatigue which in turn makes parenting all the more stressful.
Tiring yourself out Many women get seriously fatigued because they physically exert themselves too soon. Remember that you must be kind to your body which needs several weeks if not months to recover fully from the rigors of childbirth. Try to take a nap while the baby is asleep. You never know when your newborn might suddenly come down with a colic bout and give you several sleepless nights at a stretch.
Neglecting personal health New moms often stop taking multivitamins and an adequate diet once they’re through with childbirth. This can cause serious conditions like anaemia, exhaustion, water retention and osteoporosis. The post natal follow-up visit to the gynaecologist is also important since a mother’s good health ensures the same for the baby.
Formula too soon Too many mothers give up nursing their babies far too soon. They feel too fatigued through the process or think the milk is inadequate for the baby. However, the first few days of nursing are most crucial. Clinical nutritionist Mozamila Saeed says, “Colostrum (the initial breast milk that is produced right after birth) is the richest source of antibodies for the baby. It’s extremely important to feed this to the baby. Culturally our women are told to waste this precious blessing and to give the baby something sweet as the first taste. This practice can play havoc with a baby’s immune system.”
Research says that when a mother nurses the baby every two hours for the first few weeks, her body releases hormones which ensure a steady milk production through the first six months. Feeding the baby regularly during the first six weeks also ensures quicker pregnancy weight loss. Moreover, breastfed babies have stronger immune systems to protect them from illnesses and allergies for the first two years. Such babies are also known to have better emotional and mental development than babies who are bottle fed early in life.
Processed foods Paediatrician Dr Muhammad Ali Rana says, “A lot of mothers today avoid the hassle of making home cooked meals for their toddlers. Instead of introducing them to healthy stuff like suji halwa, roti, rice porridge, vegetables and fruits they hook the children to stuff like processed noodles, pizza, ketchup, etc. These are very harmful for the child’s young digestive tract.”
It’s much wiser to feed the baby simple home cooked meals with very little sugar and salt so that the child develops an appetite for natural tastes from healthy meals.
Chemical exposure Medicated soaps, powders and lotions with chemicals are harmful for babies as their young skin absorbs chemicals like a tissue paper. Babies who are fed packaged foods with preservatives and artificial flavours are also exposed to liver toxicity earlier on. A baby must never be given antibiotics, anti allergics and other medicines without consulting a good paediatrician and preferably a second opinion. If given without a good reason and without enough water to flush the excess, these medicines can lead to serious medical conditions that may even prove to be fatal.