Newborn Behaviors
Babies can be so diverse that you may always hear, “oh, that’s normal in newborns.” Let me explain to you why it makes sense!
1. Your baby has been growing inside of you for nine months. They have learned your breathing patterns, and the sound of your heartbeat has soothed them back to sleep. Your sound and movements are what they consider home up until they exit your womb. Regardless of what we think, I believe that birth can be very scary for babies. Most hospitals encourage skin to skin with your baby for the first hour of life. This has proven to reduce stress levels, regulate breathing patterns and heart patterns, as well as blood sugar and temperatures in newborns.
2. Throughout the pregnancy, your baby has been listening to the voices that are consistent. Most often, your partner’s voice will be one of the voices that your baby will immediately recognize babies are also able to recognize pheromones! Although it is a bit different compared to, being with mom (especially if you’re breastfeeding), most babies will also experience comfort while being with Dad.
3. Considering the babies have such tiny stomachs when they are born, most babies will be able to survive on the small amount of colostrum mom makes in the first 3 to 4 days of life. This may eventually lead to what we cluster feeding, which is feeding often for short or long periods of time. Up until your milk starts coming in, most babies will seem to want to be eating every hour. Although it may seem hard, it is important to allow them to feed often to stimulate your milk entry.
4. You may have heard of the word meconium, which essentially is baby stool. Meconium is a dark tarry, sticky, and heavy kind of stool. Colostrum, initially acts as a laxative to help move all of the meconium out of the baby’s digestive track (that is actually one way we track how well feedings are). With that being said, babies will most likely lose weight in the first couple of days of life. Although good colostrum consumption can lead to many stools, note that there are other reasons why newborns may lose weight rapidly or in greater amounts (>10% of their birth weight). Make sure you talk to your lactation consultants or your pediatrician to ensure that we are assessing every other areas in feedings before assuming that just the passing of meconium is why the baby has lost weight.
Navigating the first few weeks with a newborn can feel like learning a whole new language, and trust me, I've been there! It’s all about understanding their tiny signals and trusting your instincts. So many things that seem confusing or even worrying are actually completely normal newborn behaviors, and once you know what to look for, you'll feel so much more confident. My biggest challenge was figuring out if my little one was hungry or just fussy. I quickly learned that crying is often the last sign of hunger! Before that, watch for those adorable mouth movements like rooting (when something brushes their cheek, they turn their head and open their mouth), lip smacking, or even sticking out their tongue. Another big one is bringing their hands to their mouth, sucking on their fists or fingers. These are golden opportunities to offer a feed before they get upset. Trust me, it makes feeding sessions much calmer for everyone! And speaking of feeding, cluster feeding was a real eye-opener. It felt like my baby was attached to me for hours, especially in the evenings. This isn't a sign you're not making enough milk; it's often their way of telling your body to produce more, or simply seeking comfort. My best advice? Settle in with snacks, water, and your phone or a good book. Embrace the snuggles – it won't last forever! Beyond feeding, newborns do so many peculiar things! I remember my baby startling themselves awake with the Moro reflex – that sudden flailing of arms and legs. It's totally normal and just a sign their nervous system is developing. Lots of sneezing and hiccups are also common; it's usually just them clearing their tiny airways or getting used to digestion, not a sign of a cold. And their breathing can be so irregular, sometimes fast, sometimes with little pauses. This 'periodic breathing' absolutely freaked me out at first, but my pediatrician reassured me it’s normal unless they're struggling to breathe or turning blue. Learning their sleepy cues was also a game-changer. Yawning, rubbing eyes, or looking away can mean they're ready for a nap before they become overtired and fussy. The first week weigh-in felt like a test, and seeing my baby lose weight initially was tough. But our nurse explained it beautifully: it's perfectly normal! As the article mentioned, they're passing meconium, and adjusting to life outside the womb. My baby lost about 7% of their birth weight, which is well within the normal range (usually up to 10%). The key is frequent feeding to stimulate milk production and ensure they're getting enough colostrum, then breast milk. We tracked wet and dirty diapers – a good indicator they're hydrated and feeding well. If you're concerned, always chat with your lactation consultant or pediatrician; they're there to help navigate these early days! These little signals and changes are all part of your baby's amazing adjustment. The more you observe and understand, the more confident and connected you'll feel. You've got this, mama!
