How should a baby develop in the first 4 weeks of his life?

Development: what can a 1 month old baby do?

A newborn baby sleeps more during the day than he is awake. Basic senses: vision, touch, smell. Sleeping takes up most of the day, so he doesn't have time to do much. Vision is gradually improving. But despite this, development does not stop. Vision, of course, is not yet very clear, but it is easy for the baby to distinguish his mother. During this period, the baby can:

• When his mother bows down, he sees her and makes a concentrated face. This indicates that vision is gradually improving.
• You can also test your vision and attention by smoothly moving objects in front of your baby. During this period of life, the newborn lingers on them and watches them. He also sees other objects, but does not pay attention to them.
• Vision allows you to distinguish not only objects, their shapes, but also their color. He is interested in bright and contrasting things. Vision allows you to recognize the mother’s face at a distance of 30-40 cm.
• The baby may still be yellow (due to increased bilirubin).
• You can start exercising with your baby during the day: if you put him on his tummy, the newborn will make attempts to raise his head. This type of exercise will allow you to develop your muscles faster.
• If you hold him in your arms, you will notice that the baby will soon weigh more.

It's not just vision that changes. Reflexes and even speech develop. Vision will allow you to be aware of what is happening and react.

By the end of this month of life, he should weigh 0.6-0.8 kg more. Body temperature is normalized. Most often, it is close to the indicators of an adult. When measured, the baby's temperature during the day should be between 36 and 37C. At this time you need to get vaccinated.

Physiological characteristics of a newborn

There are a number of other features of newly born babies: you should not be afraid of them, this is a completely normal state of the child. Such features include, for example, fontanelles - areas of the skull not covered by the cranial bone.

60-70% of newborns experience yellowness of the skin - this is in no way connected with the presence of hepatitis, the circulatory system simply begins to function in accordance with new conditions in the air - hence the presence of bilirubin in the blood, which turns the skin yellow.

Do not be afraid of small white spots on the baby’s face - this is the result of the presence of female sex hormones estrogen - he received them from his mother.

The normal body temperature of a newborn is 37-37.5 degrees, he has not yet learned to regulate this indicator.

It should be remembered that visual acuity in infants differs significantly from that in adults. This is explained by the focal length, which is 50 cm; gradually the baby will learn to focus his eyes on an object.

Nutrition

Food is the only thing for which the baby interrupts his sleep during the day. Depending on age and height, there are clear standards for how much a small child should eat in 1 month. In addition to the amount of food, you need to follow a daily routine.

In the first month of life, the mother still has enough milk to feed the newborn without problems. Although, according to some doctors, it may not be enough for the baby to develop normally. Therefore, some doctors suggest giving some juices in addition to milk, although caring for the baby may not include complementary feeding.

During the day you usually need to do 6 to 8 feedings. The milk norm is from 50 to 90 ml. The volume depends on what kind of food is used. If the nutrition is artificial, then the milk supply will be very low, since the baby also has formula, with which he is much more saturated. In this case, the dose of milk during the day will be approximately a fifth of the child’s total body weight.

To understand how much was eaten, you need to find out how much the baby will weigh after feeding, and how much before it. To do this, you need to put him undressed on the scales and hold him while the weighing takes place.

If the baby is given only the breast, then accordingly he eats much more milk. The child should not eat too much. There is a risk of digestive problems: the baby often burps, colic, and constipation appear.

In addition to the fact that you need to follow a daily routine, it is advisable that no one distracts you while feeding your newborn. It is best to find a secluded place where he can be held comfortably and he will be engrossed in eating the milk.

To understand whether the baby is eating the current amount of milk enough, you can take a wet diaper test, which should be enough to determine the number of bladder emptyings. If he peed 12 or more times, it means everything is fine, enough milk has been eaten. If from 8 to 10, the problems are minor. If it is 6 or less, then there are problems: the baby does not have enough milk. It is also monitored how much the baby will weigh by the end of the month.

Nutrition is important not only for the baby, but also for the mother. This is why doctors do not recommend experimenting with different foods at this time.

4th week of life

With each passing week, your baby will seem a little more agile and aware. It becomes more and more interesting to communicate with him, especially since he is constantly doing and learning something new. Of course, these changes or skills are still very small, barely noticeable. While your baby spends most of his time sleeping or eating, you notice that the time he is awake increases and at this time the baby pays much more attention to his surroundings.

At this age, he may still startle during sleep and yelp at loud noises, but not wake up. This reflex helps protect newborns and help them sleep during noise and is the reason that newborns may sleep in a room where there is a loud radio or vacuum cleaner. While in the womb, the child lives in constant noise, and the sounds that surround him are familiar to him, so you should not create complete silence in the house.

Week 4 Key Milestones

At the end of the month, your baby, lying on his stomach, is likely to be able to lift and hold his head a little. From this point on, some babies can lift their head up to 45 degrees, and some can even lift their head up to 90 degrees. You may notice that the baby makes different sounds, not just crying. Sometimes these sounds sound like a dove cooing! If you're lucky, he'll even smile at you for the first time by the end of his first month.

First visit to the children's doctor

A doctor and nurse from the clinic visit the child at home several times during the first four weeks of life. But as soon as the baby turns one month old, it is time for your independent visit to the children's clinic. Almost all such visits are relatively the same. To check that your baby is developing normally, the doctor checks some parameters:

- the child’s weight, height and head circumference. This is so the doctor can chart growth from birth to make sure the baby is growing properly.

- a physical examination of the child, which includes listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope, palpating the abdomen to ensure there are no abnormal bulges or growths, and rotating the hips to exclude any misalignment and possible hip dysplasia

- the fontanel on the child’s head is checked to make sure it closes correctly

- if your child was not vaccinated against hepatitis B immediately at birth, he may be vaccinated at the first visit.

Feeding rhythm in the first 1-2 months The first months together and mothers have the most worries and questions about why the baby asks for the breast so often? A newborn weighs on his chest for a long time, does he not get enough to eat? Am I low on milk? - A child has the right to breastfeed for a long time (20 to 1.5, and sometimes 2 hours) and often in the first 2 months (the intervals between feedings can be from 15 minutes to 2-2.5 hours), but provided that he is well adds and writes. After all, a child sucks at the breast not only for food. Breast milk contains laxatives that help empty the intestines, morph-like ones reduce discomfort in the tummy and head, and help sleep, and many others, designed to make the baby’s adaptation to the new world smoother.

Feeding rhythms 1-2 months

— Sucking the breast is not only nutrition, but also psychological comfort. — The first two months, breastfeeding occurs on demand and is chaotic. - Applications can occur up to 4 times per hour. — Number of attachments: 3-4 night feedings, 8-15 daytime feedings, of which approximately 5-7 are full feedings. - The baby needs to be latched to the breast before falling asleep and when waking up - these are the most productive sucklings. - Sucking during sleep is normal. — Sleeping together with the mother, combined with carefree continuous sucking of the mother’s breast, gives the child a feeling of security and psycho-emotional comfort necessary for the formation of a fully balanced psyche. If you are not ready to sleep together, it is effective to place the bed next to each other. This way you can always extend your hand to the child, which gives him peace of mind and understanding of his mother’s closeness. A newborn baby feels very comfortable next to his mother! Feeding rhythms change every 2-3 months.

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Alekhina Olesya - lactation consultant

Dream

Eating unquestioningly alternates with sleep. Sleep is something that a newborn needs very much and what care consists of. Many people wonder how much sleep a baby should sleep at 1 month of age. Sleep averages 18 hours. During the break, the baby should eat his quota, stay awake a little and go back to sleep.

A baby may have poor sleep for several reasons:

• New sounds, sensations, colors around you can be scary. Because of this, it is more difficult for the baby to calm down, he often cries.
• The baby is worried about colic, constipation and other problems with the digestive system. If he spits up frequently, this should also be taken into account.
• Typical runny nose, snot, and fever can lead to anxiety. Poor sleep is easy to eliminate. Doctors will help treat the baby. Additionally, you need to provide care and be sure to clean your nose before going to bed.
• Room temperature.

How does a child develop?

Maria Prokhorova says that at this stage, the amnion (a temporary organ that provides a suitable aquatic environment for the embryo), the chorion (outer membrane), which will later turn into the placenta - the most important link between mother and child, and the yolk sac - the “pantry”, have already been formed. "with the supply of nutrients necessary for the embryo. These organs are usually called extraembryonic.

The growth of the embryo at this stage is 1 mm, its size can be compared to a poppy seed. The baby does not yet look like a future person at all, in fact, it is a tiny lump of cells, but the miracle of the birth of a new life has already taken place - from that significant moment when fertilization of the egg with sperm occurred, 10 to 12 days have passed. Cells divide incredibly quickly, and your grain grows by leaps and bounds. You just have to wait a little, and at the first ultrasound you will hear a tiny heart beating.

If we talk about the structure of the embryo, now it looks like a disk of those layers, each of which has its own “mission”: the outer one is responsible for the nervous system, skin, hair, eye lenses, teeth; the middle one is responsible for the skeleton, muscles, blood vessels, heart, kidneys; internal - for the digestive system, liver, lungs, pancreas.

Anxiety and its causes

It often happens that a newborn cries, but parents cannot understand the reason. Even if you hold and rock him in your arms for a long time, the baby still cries and does not calm down. The most common reasons why a child is restless and crying include:

• problems with digestion (colic, constipation, the baby often spits up), which will also appear as a rash on the face and body;
• colds, in which there is a runny nose, snot, fever;
• the temperature in the room is inappropriate, or he is not dressed correctly;
• Wet diapers and proper care will help eliminate this problem.

Advice from a gynecologist for the fourth week of pregnancy

Recommendations and prohibitions remain the same as in the third week:

1. It would be better to ban any bad habits forever, but certainly for the next 36 weeks. You should also avoid passive smoking, since so-called second-hand smoke contains a huge amount of toxic substances.
2. No matter how much you would like to do the first ultrasound, at this stage it is acceptable, for example, to confirm intrauterine pregnancy, but it is still not very informative. The priority is still a blood test for hCG.
3. You should observe moderation in your diet—don’t overeat, but don’t starve either. The expectant mother's menu should be dominated by fiber-rich vegetables, berries and protein. Fast carbohydrates, fried, salty and fatty foods are completely excluded.
4. Physical activity is acceptable. But still, you shouldn’t work hard in the gym. If your profession involves sports, you should consider a less intense workout regimen.
5. Intimate life at four weeks is not contraindicated. Intimacy with a partner brings a lot of positive emotions, which are so necessary for a pregnant woman.

Digestive problems: constipation, colic

The first months of life are a difficult time for both the baby and parents, who are forced to treat unstable stools, constipation, and colic. In addition, you need to monitor how the child spits up and whether he accidentally chokes.

When a baby spits up, this is normal. This is due to the fact that the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract are not fully mature. Thus, the baby regurgitates a certain amount of food. However, there is also another side to the coin. If the baby often spits up and does not gain weight, parents have a direct route to the hospital for examination. Once completed, the cause can be accurately determined.

If your baby spits up frequently, the problem may be a lack of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Probiotics will help.

Colic is another problem that leads to the baby constantly crying. This happens due to excessive gas formation. Colic is not a disease. That's what most doctors say. However, colic must be survived, because in fact it is only proof that the body is undergoing its development. However, few people can clearly explain why this happens. When artificial feeding, you can change the formula.

If colic is a constant concern and the child cries, it is recommended to give dill water.

Constipation is also a common occurrence in infants. Most often they bother those babies who are bottle-fed. Constipation, or rather its cause, most often lies in improper preparation of the mixture. In this case, a violation of proportions occurs. As a result, the baby becomes constipated.

But this is an incomplete picture. Constipation can cause serious illness. That's why, if this phenomenon is frequent, you should sound the alarm: consult a doctor and get examined.

Colds or normal? Physiological runny nose and snot

A runny nose and snot are a common occurrence in children. Most often it occurs with a physiological runny nose, in which snot is not a cold phenomenon, but a normal one. No additional symptoms (eg fever) are observed. This happens because the body gets used to it. As soon as the addiction passes, the snot and runny nose will stop. Of course, with this phenomenon there should be no temperature. Otherwise, a runny nose and snot are a cold that needs to be treated.

Jaundice or increased bilirubin levels

An increased level of bilirubin is normal. Manifests itself in the form of jaundice. Often, the amount of bilirubin gradually decreases, and the jaundice goes away without a trace. Although this decline may last quite a long time.

There are three types of bilirubin: direct, indirect and total. The ratio of direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin to . If this proportion is met, the jaundice goes away. Usually the amount of bilirubin normalizes after a week. Sometimes for 3-4 weeks of life. This increased level of bilirubin is also called physiological jaundice, and there is no need for treatment.

Rash on face

In the first months of life, a rash on the face is a common occurrence. This occurs due to the proliferation of yeast. The rash on the face does not need to be treated. It just requires special care:

• First of all, wash your face during the day.
• Next, in order for the rash on the face to go away, you need to optimize the air parameters: the temperature should be from 18 to 21 degrees, and the humidity from 40 to 70%.
• Sometimes doctors recommend treating rashes. Only if the rash on the face is severe, antifungal creams can be used.
• A solution of potassium permanganate and powder have a good effect on a rash on the face.

According to doctors, the rash on the face most often disappears without a trace within a period of one to three months. In fact, this is the norm for infants.

Caring for a newborn: vaccinations, bathing and other aspects

Caring for a newborn is a responsible task. It includes bathing, walking, hygiene. While the baby is awake, it is necessary to do gymnastics. Care is daily and includes:

• washing;
• cleaning the ears and nose (if you have a runny nose and snot);
• trimming nails;
• changing diapers;
• washing.

Bathing is an important procedure. Doctors recommend performing this procedure in the evening. Although there is an exception. Sometimes bathing can make it difficult for your baby to fall asleep. Then this procedure can be done in the morning. It is very important what temperature the water is. You need to make sure that swimming takes place only in water 36-37C.

If your baby has a fever, runny nose and snot, you should not undergo it.

Bathing with chamomile, celandine and string herbs will help relieve inflammation from the skin, soothe it, and eliminate rashes. If vaccinations have been made, this area should not be wetted; it requires special care. The handle can be sealed with adhesive tape and held above the water.

Walking is also important for a newborn. They take place in the fresh air, which is incredibly useful. In addition, sleeping in the fresh air cannot be compared with anything else.

While the child is awake, this is the time for activities with the baby. Charging will consist of performing the simplest movements: bending the arms and legs. Another exercise is to give the child a finger, and after he grasps it, you need to hold it and lightly lift the body. The baby, as soon as he sees the finger extended to him, grabs it.

But the baby does not stay awake for long, and you need to work with him half an hour before feeding. Doctors do not recommend activities such as exercise before bed.

Postpartum back pain

Here are some tips on how to carry your baby to minimize postpartum pain:

1) Instead of bending at the waist to lift your baby, bend at the knees. And keep your wrists straight when you pick up your baby.

2) If the baby rests too much on the hip (as the baby gets bigger), this will also only lead to pain - so don't even start this habit.

3) Instead of constantly holding your baby, try wearing him in a carrier or sling. This not only calms him down, but also soothes (and frees) your sore hands.

4) Switch arms so each one gets a workout (and your body doesn't get sore).