Babies: 5 surprises you don’t expect
It’s normal that new parents, on their first experience, have dreams and high expectations, but often in their imagination there is a film that sometimes doesn’t correspond to reality. Here are the surprises they don’t expect
Many times parents, especially if it’s their first child, have some “surprises” that they don’t expect. Most of the time these surprises are not real problems, but things different from what the parents had in mind and which many may not know to expect.
It must be said that in the face of these unexpected events, most fathers and mothers adapt immediately, while some new parents may feel bad. Here are five, just enough to get used to the idea.
Babies: 5 surprises you don’t expect
1. It’s not as “cool” as you expected
During your pregnancy you may have read books, magazines and online articles about newborns to help you understand how to look after your baby, how to breastfeed him, how to dress him, etc.
Attached to these readings there are always images of newborns as beautiful as the sun, with rosy skin, smiling happily and blissfully.
But what you never think about is that in reality only very few of those children in the photos have just been born. They are probably already a few weeks old or if not at least a month old.
In fact, the newborn often has an elongated head, a swollen face, very red skin and sometimes patches similar to bruises.
Some dads and moms are disappointed by this aspect, some are even shocked as their child looks “different” from the children in the magazines and even uglier.
This “surprise” shouldn’t scare you: it’s the end result of the birth, it happens very often and there’s nothing wrong with your newborn baby. Over time his appearance will improve.
2. He “doesn’t like” the bedroom
You just got back from the hospital with your little baby. Before giving birth, you spent quite a bit of time choosing and setting up her bedroom and crib . You have chosen the underwear you like and you have stocked the bedroom with diapers, creams and lotions and all her clothes.
The surprise that perhaps you do not expect, however, is that perhaps your child may not want to invest so much time in that room (or at least not as you think, or at least not right away).
In fact, some newborns sleep little or are not so easily manageable. So many moms and dads end up putting the crib in the bedroom with them. And the bedroom? It can remain unused for a few weeks if not more. Never mind and don’t fret about this “surprise” you didn’t expect.
Enjoy the pleasure of taking care of and cleaning his bedroom even if you use it little or nothing. That moment will come and you will already have it ready.
3. Walks are impossible
Your baby has been born and you can’t wait to take him for a walk . In fact, many parents like to go out with the pram, meet friends and family and take the opportunity to “introduce” their little one to their loved ones. There are newborns who, despite being subjected to the hustle and bustle of going out, spend the moment happy and blissful, without waking up and without crying.
Don’t be surprised if yours doesn’t.
In fact, there are many newborns who do not tolerate going out, feel the change and wake up and cry all the time (my daughter, for example, was one of these).
This unfortunately makes the exits unpleasant. Don’t be sorry.
If your baby becomes more “grumpy” than usual with outings, you may need to postpone some walks for now. To present it to friends and relatives you can always invite them to your home.
4. The clothes run away too fast
Keep in mind that a newborn baby grows faster than you think. If you have received so many beautiful baby clothes with baby sizes, don’t hesitate to put them on your baby. Don’t wait until you have a special occasion to get them to wear them because you might be in for a sad surprise that they’ve already eluded them.
So put your new baby in good clothes and enjoy it, since you won’t be able to do it for a while longer.
5. He doesn’t want a pacifier
It’s useless to deny it: for many parents, the pacifier is a salvation (even if we could talk about it for hours about the pros and cons). Since the newborn’s sucking instinct is a natural and spontaneous mechanism, the pacifier is a tool that gives them security and relaxation. This is why parents often use it as an antidote to crying spells or to reassure the child.
But while there are children who immediately accept the pacifier, there are others who don’t want it at all. Therefore, if in your imagination you expected to be able to easily resort to the pacifier and instead your baby spits it out, don’t be surprised and don’t worry.
Every child has their own times to accept it, but it’s also normal that they may not like it.
It is possible to make attempts, such as offering it to him in moments of sleep or possibly trying different models of pacifier (there are various types depending on the shape, material and age group). But if you don’t succeed, maybe it’s better not to insist.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.