Navigating the First Night Home
Bringing home baby! For many new parents this is the moment when they realize the expectation of life with a newborn is far from the reality. The picture you had in your head of this first night home is often rudely erased by real life. So how can you best prepare for what it’s going to be like on that first night home? We have a few tips to help you get settled in.
Divide and Conquer
We know that both parents are eager to begin life with their new baby and to of course approach this new stage as a team. But when both players on the team are completely drained and utterly exhausted, it makes for a rough game. So consider splitting the duties at night.
Divide the night into blocks - the first block runs from 10pm-2am and the next block runs from 2am-6am. And if it’s not your designated block, then you should be sleeping!
If your baby is being breastfed, consider having the breastfeeding parent nurse the baby right before 10pm and then head off to bed. If your baby is hungry before 2am (and they most likely will be), bring the baby to them and help them get comfortable feeding in bed. As soon as the feeding is finished, then they go right back to sleep and the “on-duty” parent takes over all of the diapering, burping, settling, and soothing. It may not be a full uninterrupted stretch for the breastfeeding parent, but they can at least remain in bed and maximize as much sleep as possible.
If your baby is being formula fed, then it’s much easier to keep the night fully divided and protect the sleep of the “off-duty” parent.
Have a Backup Feeding Plan - Just In Case
Many new parents hope to establish breastfeeding with their newborn and that’s a great goal! But the reality of getting breastfeeding started can be challenging. And it’s even harder to navigate those challenges when you’re home and there’s not a call button to bring in the nurse whenever you have a question. If it’s 2:00am and your newborn is not latching or not able to transfer milk from the breast, that’s stressful. So have a Plan B ready to go.
Make sure that there is at least one washed and sanitized bottle (preferably with the slowest flow nipple possible for that bottle brand to make feeding easier for your newborn) and a small can of formula at home.
And then repeat this mantra: One or two supplemental bottle feedings will not sabotage my breastfeeding goals. It’s true. Make sure that you also have a good International Board Certified Lactation Consultant picked out and ready to contact first thing the next morning. Connecting with an IBCLC will help you get back on track and tackle those common feeding challenges that arise in the first few days and weeks.
Keep the Household Crew Small
We know you’re probably super excited to introduce your new baby to their older sibling or the furry big brother/sister, but you might find it less stressful to keep all of your energy and attention on the newborn your first night home.
If you have local, helpful family members, let the big siblings have a sleepover with the grandparents or their favorite fun aunt and uncle. They can pick out doughnuts in the morning and bring breakfast over to mom, dad, and their new baby sibling. Everyone gets the attention they need and deserve and everyone is happy.
If you have dogs at home, you might want to consider boarding them for a few more nights. Just to give you a chance to get settled in without having to worry about when it’s time for a walk or anyone else’s feeding schedules besides your baby’s.
Line Up Extra Support - For You!
If you will be lining up support from a postpartum doula, consider scheduling overnight support or even a smaller evening shift for this first night home. It can feel overwhelming to walk through the front door with this new baby. Most parents don’t get good sleep at the hospital, so they’re already exhausted. Figuring out how to feed and care for your newborn can be overwhelming - especially in the middle of the night. It can be so much less stressful figuring this all out with your postpartum doula there to help and guide. Afterall, that’s what we’re here for!
So if you’re anxious about that first night home from the hospital, consider some of our expert tips to help things go a little smoother once you’re home with your baby. Or take the next step and give us a call to get your postpartum doula scheduled and ready to greet you when you walk through the door!