HOW DAD CAN HELP ONCE BABY HAS ARRIVED
Winding
Changing Nappies
Shopping
Cooking and Fluids for Mum
Baby Blues
Postnatal Depression
- Try to remember to wind your baby after every feed, until your baby is six months old
WINDING
While babies are feeding they can swallow air and that causes discomfort. Try and wind your baby after every feed until they are six months old.
- Have a clean towel ready (in case baby possets during winding)
- Sit baby up straight on your lap or looking over your shoulder
- Gently rub or pat their back
- Spend no more than 30sec doing this
- Remember, your baby may not burp every time
- Each change will take half the time when you have all the essentials close to hand
CHANGING NAPPIES
Changing a baby's nappy seems to come naturally to some people. Others may need some help. Use the information below if you feel you need a little help.
Keep baby wipes, barrier cream (or petroleum jelly), nappy disposal sacks, clean nappies, changing mats and a towel ready in a changing bag (or by the changing mat).
Each change will take half the time with this prepared and close to hand.
Follow this step by step guide on how to change a nappy:
- Find a safe surface and lay baby down on the changing mat, removing all the things you don’t want baby to touch
- Never leave baby unattended, especially if the mat is on a raised surface
- Remove all of baby's clothes from the waist down (including socks)
- Undo the nappy tabs and stick them to the back half of the nappy to stop them getting stuck to baby’s legs
- As soon as cold air touches the baby’s skin, they will often urinate (especially boys). Be prepared by holding the front of the nappy a few inches from the skin for a few seconds, just in case!
- Hold baby’s feet/ankles with one hand and gently lift the bottom away from the nappy
- With the other hand, remove the dirty nappy and, if you can, wipe as you go
- Always clean from front to back, especially with girls, to prevent spreading bacteria
- Put the nappy in the nappy sack or disposable bag away from your baby’s reach
- Using the baby wipes (or cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water) clean baby thoroughly being sure to wipe all folds of skin
- Have a towel ready in case baby urinates again without the constraints of a nappy
- Apply barrier cream or petroleum jelly to baby’s bottom and genitals
- Position the clean nappy under baby. Place the half with the tabs on under the back and pull the front up between the legs
- Mould the nappy round baby’s body then stick the tabs in place. Take care not to get any cream on the tabs as this will prevent them from sticking
- Redress the baby
- Dispose of the old nappy and clean up ready for next time
Always ensure baby is safe and cannot fall if you're changing the nappy on a raised surface.
SHOPPING
Your partner will be extremely tired after the birth. You can help out by making sure she's eating properly and keeping well hydrated. Support your partner by helping out with shopping and cooking.
If your partner is breastfeeding she will need extra calcium and energy. Great sources of calcium are milk and dairy products. If she doesn’t eat dairy products then buy tofu, green vegetables, seeds or nuts. Buy wholegrain varieties of bread, pasta and rice and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Canned, frozen and dried fruit and vegetables are still high in nutrients but often easier to store.
COOKING AND FLUIDS FOR MUM
Try to ensure your partner drinks eight glasses of fluid per day to help prevent tiredness and lethargy. This can come from water, fruit juice or squash, milk or herbal teas. Experiment with different milky drinks to help your partner get the extra 550mg calcium per day needed whilst breastfeeding. Try making hot chocolate with milk. Milkshakes and smoothies can be made quickly by blending a chopped banana, pieces of her favourite fruit and either ice cold milk or low fat yoghurt. Alcohol should be avoided at this time as it can change the smell of breast milk and disrupt feeding patterns.
- Over 50% of new mothers suffer 'baby blues' caused by hormonal changes and tiredness
BABY BLUES
Hormonal changes after birth combined with other factors such as tiredness can often cause mild depression in women. In some cases this can develop into a more serious condition known as postnatal depression. Over 50% of new mothers suffer from a condition known as 'baby blues' caused by hormonal changes and tiredness. This period of mild depression can last from a few hours to a few days and usually presents the following symptoms:
- Crying for no reason and not being able to stop
- Feeling anxious and tense
- Worrying excessively over minor incidents
Help your partner by comforting her and allowing her to cry and express her emotions. Listen to her and encourage her to rest as much as she can. Symptoms should last no longer than a few days. Consult a GP if they persist or get worse.
POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
Postnatal depression (PND) is a more serious illness that affects around 10% of mothers.
Symptoms include:
- Believing you are unable to cope with the demands of a new baby or managing a new routine at home
- Feeling sad and crying frequently
- Feeling anxious, tense and highly irritable
- Panic attacks
- Worrying excessively over the health of your new baby
- Lack of energy and concentration
- Feeling pains with no explained cause
- Sleeping difficulties and lack of appetite
- Severe feelings of guilt for not coping as well as expected
If these symptoms persist for longer than a few days, help your partner write down her symptoms and seek help from a GP. If PND is diagnosed, anti-depressants may be prescribed until symptoms fade. Your partner will appreciate a sympathetic ear at this time and plenty of help with chores to give her time to rest.
