Your Baby, Month-by-Month: Month 1 ~ A Whole Lotta Poop

Our boys both have very healthy digestive systems. They get it from their Daddy. :)  I remember our first day in the hospital after Big Brother was born…within 24 hours we had already gone through the sample package of diapers that the hospital gave us. It was supposed to last throughout our entire hospital stay and then some. I had no idea how much a newborn baby pooped…I mean, really, where does all that poop come from???
I also had NO IDEA just how excited we would get for every poopy and wet diaper. Every diaper change was cause for celebration! After all, lots of dirty diapers is typically a good indicator that things are functioning as they should inside of that baby of yours.
Now, your baby may not have as many bowel movements as ours did, but you’ll still be surprised just how many diapers that teeny tiny little thing will fill! You can expect to go through about 12 diapers a day for the first few weeks. So, yes, that Jumbo package of Pampers Swaddlers is only going to last you about 3-4 days. Seriously…Recruit friends and neighbors to give you their diaper coupons. Or consider using cloth diapers! Your wallet will thank you.
Besides a whole lotta poop, here’s what else you can expect that first month with your new bundle of joy:
  • Sleeping:  On average, newborns sleep 16-20 hours each day. That sounds like a lot, but unfortunately it seems very little of this sleep actually occurs at night! So be prepared for your baby to have her days and nights mixed up for a couple weeks. Try to keep her from sleeping long stretches during the day to help speed the process along. Babies love to be swaddled too!
  • Eating:  Likewise, you can expect your newborn to want to eat about every 2-3 hours around-the-clock. So you’ll be nursing or bottle feeding 8-12 times each day. Every baby is different, though, and some might need more feedings for the first few weeks.
  • Sneezing:  I was convinced that Big Brother was sick just 2 hours after he was born because he started sneezing like crazy! This is actually the body’s way of clearing out the excess amniotic fluid and excess mucus in the respiratory passage. You can expect your little one to sneeze for a couple days to a week to clear everything out.
  • Crying:  A baby has no other way to communicate with you other than to cry. Crying usually means your baby needs something–she is hungry, she has a dirty diaper, she is cold. But about 2-3 weeks of age, many babies enter a “crying season” where it appears that they are crying for no reason at all! Stay calm and attempt to soothe your baby during this time. Check with your doctor if you baby is crying for a prolonged period of time and/or she is inconsolable.
  • Cool Tricks:  Around the time your baby is one month old, she’ll probably start smiling at you. Whether this is intentional or not…it’s still super fun and great to have some interaction with your little angel.

Activities:

  • Tummy Time:  Because experts advise that babies should sleep on their backs, it is important to give them plenty of awake time on their tummies. This not only keeps their heads from getting flat, but it also builds the muscles in their neck, helping them to learn to hold it up easier. About 20-30 minutes after your baby’s feeding (once she’s had time to digest), put her on her tummy for at least 5 minutes. She might not like it at first, but it is important to keep doing it. Let her see herself in a shatter-proof mirror. Lay down by her and sing her songs. Try to make it enjoyable in whatever way you can. As she gets older, work up to longer stretches. Eventually she should have at least 30 minutes of awake tummy time. Never put a baby to sleep on her stomach.

Ask your doctor if your baby:

  • Will not focus on your face by the time she is 4 weeks old.
  • Is running a temperature of 100.4 degrees or more. Call immediately.
  • Has lost interest in feeding or is feeding poorly.
  • Has decreased activity or alertness (indifferent response to stimulation, very floppy muscle tone, eyes open but little spontaneous movement).
  • Is crying nonstop (prolonged and inconsolable). 
  • Has abnormal movements (unusual jerking of arms, legs, or head, especially if sustained for several seconds)
  • Has unusual coloring (pale or yellow-orange color of the skin, bluish discoloration of the lips)

Or if you are uncertain about anything else! As a new parent, you can never ask too many questions (and believe me, I’ve pushed the limit). :)

Your turn:

  • Do you have any questions? Leave a comment!
  • Likewise, veteran parents…feel free to chime in with anything I forgot to cover!

References:
Eisenberg, A., Murkoff, H.E., & Hathaway, S.E. (1996). What to Expect the First Year. Workman Publishing Company:  New York.

Reisser, P.C. (2007). The Focus on the Family Complete Book of Baby and Child Care. Tyndale House Publishers: Carol Stream, IL.
Please Note:  This post is for informational (and entertainment) purposes only. I am not a doctor! Be sure to talk to your doctor regarding any questions or concerns you may have regarding your baby. 

9 Comments

  1. Hi, I've been following you blog for just a month or so. We had our fist baby two weeks ago and I was glad to find all your activity ideas – for later of course. And great timing on this post for me as I'm full of questions. One is that you mention newborns sleep a lot, I was ready for that but not prepared for him to be wide awake for 3-4 hour stretches of time. (usually during the day thankfully). I feel like that's too long for a newborn to be awake. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
    I really appreciate your simple, overall summary. I can get worked up about the little things and this is a good reminder of what is important.

  2. @Sarah-

    We had our first baby 10 months ago and had the same experience you described. He would have stretches of 3, 4, even 5 hours where he was awake during the day. Our pediatrician said as long as he was eating well, sleeping fine, and content, any stretch of sleep or wake time was "normal." Around week 4, he transitioned into a more "normal" pattern of eat, wake (2 hours or so) and nap. We put him on a more regular breastfeeding schedule around week 3 and I think that probably impacted his wake/sleep periods. I think as long as your little guy is eating well and content while he's awake, then you shouldn't worry! Not easy as a new parent, I know! :o) If he is fussy during all that wake time, then he might need you to initiate naps for him. Just my experience…I'm no expert.

  3. I would say first of all to run it by your baby's doctor. It sounds like this is just the natural rhythm your baby has fallen into at this point in time.

    But baby's have a way of changing on us just when we get used to something, so I'll bet that in the next few weeks even that will change. Just be in tune to the cues he gives you when he's tired. And hang in there, Momma…the first few weeks can be really tough!

  4. 17 years ago the nurses at the hospital said not to lie my kid on his stomach to sleep. They lay him on his back. Grizzle, moan. Well, they told me I would have a lot of trouble with him when I got home. But, he was my third baby and the first three I had been told to lie them on their tummy for sleep, so I did it with my fourth and had no problems re sleeping. The two worse things were smoking and bottle feeding , neither of which I did.

  5. My baby boy just about 4 weeks old and seems tobe doing the eat/sleep/poop and pee thing very well. I’d like to begin with tummy time and other activities. Is he too young? I feel he is restless at certain times…beyond being hungry or dirty diapers.

  6. Hello

    My baby is week old.

    And he likes to continues takes feeding as 1 to 2 hours.
    And play at there nd sleep.
    When he wake up he likes only to keep mouth only there.

    What to do?

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