Let's start with the definition, because the term " newborn"- a loose concept. If the newlyweds cease to be such at the end honeymoon then for newborn time allotted medical science, and even less and amounts, according to the instructions The World Organization Health care, only 28 days. 28 days from the moment of birth, more precisely - from the moment of cutting the umbilical cord and separating the fetus from the mother.
It is clear that newborns very different from each other and is determined by both the state of health and the degree of maturity. Talk about skills of the newborn without specifying which newborn in question, is a thankless task, for between a healthy full-term baby and a baby born seven months old - a huge distance. Therefore, we will agree right away - the subject of our discussion will be exactly the healthy, born on time newborn , insofar as physiological features premature babies- a specific topic that requires an emphasis not so much on "skills" as on the differences from the norm and the resulting features of care.
Initial assessment of skills, and, accordingly, and health status of the newborn carried out by medical workers directly in the delivery room. Each parent will be able to find the result of this assessment in the documents received upon discharge from the hospital, where he will read, for example: "I was born 8-9 points according to Apgar." Not everyone knows who or what "Apgar" is, many are sure that this is some kind of abbreviation and are unsuccessfully trying to decipher it. Let's explain: Apgar is a surname with an accent on the first letter "A", she (surname) belongs to a woman, an American anesthesiologist. Apgar proposed a scale according to which 5 main signs of health (ill health) newborn, namely: heartbeat, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color are assessed on a three-point system - get 0, 1 or 2 points. So in total, a maximum of 10 is recruited.
But evaluating by Apgar is the business of people in white coats. And what about the average average parent? Here we arrived home from the hospital, here we gathered for family council... We have newborn... The doctors said everything was fine. But doubts are oppressive. Some kind of red, eyes in different sides, waving her little hands in a strange way, jerking her legs, sticking out her lips, turning her head and generally yelling ... The relatives crowding around the crib put forward the most diverse and completely disappointing versions, plunging young parents into despondency and by no means contributing to normal lactation in the mother.
And in view of the above and very typical situation, we will try to tell you how it should be, because the most reliable way avoid stress - get information on time. There is also a second way - to ask relatives to refrain from commenting so as not to create unnecessary stress, but within the framework of the domestic mentality, this task is practically unrealistic.
Let's start with the senses. In fact, according to the long established rules, the doctor finishes the examination of the child by assessing the work of the sense organs, but this is what worries the parents most of all - what the child sees, what he hears, what he feels.
Vision. Both the optic nerve and the muscles that move the eyeball in a newborn are not fully formed. The child feels only the light itself as such, that is, it distinguishes day from night, but it is not in a position to understand that it is the grandmother who is waving her arms in front of him. The aforementioned immaturity of the oculomotor muscles forms physiological, that is, completely normal squint for the neonatal period.
Specificity is newborn- blinking reflex. The bottom line: no matter how much you swing objects near the eye, it does not blink, but reacts to a bright and sudden beam of light.
Hearing. Immediately after birth, it is somewhat reduced (the ear cavity is gradually filled with air), but by the time it is at home, it hears almost like adults. But he does not understand and therefore does not react. If the sound is loud enough, it flinches, while the depth and frequency of breathing can change, the facial muscles of the face react.
Smell. On strong odors clearly reacts (as a rule, by changing the breathing rate), but is not able to distinguish the cologne of the father from the perfume of the mother.
Taste. With this - it's certainly all right. Sweet has a calming effect, licks lips, makes swallowing movements. Doesn't like salty and bitter things. Stops sucking, grimaces, cries.
Insofar as taste and smell developed very well, it is quite possible, and this must be taken into account, negative reactions to "tasteless" medicines and hygiene products, which are used by a nursing mother.
Touch... Well developed, but uneven, as unevenly distributed nerve endings... He perceives touching the face and limbs more actively than stroking the back. Well, he reacts in a completely civilized manner - cries from cold and hard, calms down from soft and warm.
So, we have dealt with the senses. Now a little about everything else, no less important.
Leather. It is well supplied with blood, the smallest vessels (capillaries) are wider than in adults (relatively, of course). Significantly underdeveloped sweat glands... These two factors are associated with significant sensitivity to damaging factors, especially overheating. But there is also a noticeable plus - a very high regenerative ability - everything heals very quickly, naturally if the damaging factor is eliminated.
Muscles. A specific feature is an increase in muscle tone, but the muscles themselves are underdeveloped, especially the muscles of the limbs. And the general muscle mass It differs markedly from an adult and is only 22-25% of body weight, while for dad and mom it is at least 40%.
Respiratory system. Pulmonary respiration, as is known, is absent in the fetus in principle, the exchange of gases is carried out by means of the so-called. placental circulation. Immediately after birth, the baby takes the first breath, the upper respiratory tract and lungs are filled with air - the baby begins to breathe like a human. Important feature of the newborn- the narrowness of the nasal passages, and the larynx, and the trachea, and the mucous membranes covering them from the inside are very delicate and are actively supplied with blood. The mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract can be easily damaged by picking the nose, it is easy to dry out. When the air is dry and dusty, protective mucus is produced in large quantities, and since all the passages are narrow, then problems often arise when mucus accumulates in the respiratory tract. Sneeze newborn maybe, but blowing your nose - no way. It is important to know this precisely because the baby, of course, can breathe humanly (that is, with a nose and without grunting), but only if loving relatives they will create human conditions for him - so that there is less dust, so as not to overdo it with heaters, in order to ventilate the children's room in time.
Normal breathing rate for newborn baby fluctuates in the range of 40-60 respiratory movements per minute.
The cardiovascular system. Placental circulation stops immediately after birth. The work of the heart and blood vessels changes significantly. The lungs are filled with blood, some vessels and openings cease to function and close (through them, the fetus carried blood flow bypassing the lungs). Heart newborn- one of the healthiest organs, it is very resistant to stress and a lack of oxygen. The heart rate ranges from 110 to 140 beats per minute, and these fluctuations occur constantly - almost any external influence seriously changes the pulse rate.
Digestive system. A baby is born with very well developed chewing muscles and a relatively large tongue. This makes prolonged and active sucking possible. But the salivary glands are still immature and there is little saliva itself. The digestive organs grow very quickly. So, on the first day of life, the stomach contains about 20 ml of milk, after a week already 50 ml, and by the end of the neonatal period more than 100. Since child's body is focused specifically on milk, then the enzymes of the stomach and intestines, in terms of their qualitative and quantitative composition, are focused on the successful digestion of milk. In the first 10-20 hours of life intestinal tract practically sterile, but it fills up with germs very quickly. Bacteria multiplying in the intestines change the appearance of feces - at first it is brown, then greenish-yellow, after a few days - light yellow, mushy with a sour smell.
Allocation system. Already at birth in the bladder there is a small amount of urine. In the first 3 days of life, urination is relatively rare - 4-5 times a day - this is quite normal. But the number of small-time walks is rapidly increasing and in the second week of life it ranges from 15 to 25 times. Volume Bladder a newborn has from 50 to 80 ml, but the child does not know how to accumulate urine in such an amount - 10-15 ml is "gathered" and it is enough - it's time to change the diapers. As for the kidneys themselves, although they are able to quite successfully perform their functions, they are underdeveloped by the time of birth. In this regard, the characteristics of the urine of the newborn ( specific gravity, reaction, protein content) - differ from the norms of an adult.
Nervous system newborn has a number of features, this is, perhaps, the very system of the body that undergoes the greatest changes precisely during the first months of life. Reflexes, excitability, and reactions to the environment are constantly changing. Muscle tone is more pronounced in the muscles that flex the arms and legs. Some signs that are completely abnormal in adults are quite natural for newborn... So, for example, tremors of the muscles of the extremities (so-called tremors) are very undesirable for agitated grandmothers, but for a newborn, this is the norm. Tendon reflexes(those that a neuropathologist determines with a hammer) are not constant in a newborn, well, except that the knee is determined almost always and in everyone.
But there are also very special reflexes they are called that "physiological reflexes newborns "... The mentioned reflexes due to the immaturity of the brain, they are present in all healthy newborns, but as the brain "matures", they fade away and disappear by 4-5 months. Each parent can find these reflexes in his child and thereby be convinced of his (child's) normality. Examples:
Grasp reflex. If you bring an adult's finger to the inner side of the baby's palm, the child grabs it and holds firmly. So firmly that the child is easy to lift up above the table surface.
Hug reflex. Occurs when the child is lying on the table, when there is a sudden loud sound, when the buttocks or thighs are tapped. The reflex consists of two phases. In the first, the child leans back, the shoulders are unbent, and the arms are spread apart. In the second phase of the reflex, the arms come together on the chest.
Crawl reflex. If the baby is laid on the tummy and the palms of an adult are placed on the feet, the child is repelled.
Stance reflexes and automatic walking. In an upright position (the child is held under the armpits), the child rests his legs against the changing table. And if you tilt it forward a little, movements resembling walking appear.
The listed reflexes the list is not limited, but for parental experiments the given list is quite sufficient.
This information allows us to form a very definite impression of the skills of a newborn baby. The kid, although it seems weak and helpless, actually knows a lot. The main skill is the ability to distinguish good from bad and inform relatives about it. Cry and call for help when you are hungry, when you feel uncomfortable, when something hurts, calm down and behave pretty well when everything suits you. He knows how to suck and swallow, knows how to relieve himself, distinguish day from night, silence from noise, tasty from bitter, soft from hard - not so little for a person whose age is determined by days.

Sleepless nights scare many parents. Some moms on own experience learned that a child may not sleep not only at night, but also during the day: the baby simply falls asleep for half an hour and wakes up again. And this situation can continue for at least a year after birth. Adults complain: colic, teeth, tummy problems, all this is the cause of restless sleep. But if the baby is constantly asleep, this is a dream. However, doctors pay attention: there are situations when a prolonged sleep of a newborn during the day signals a problem. Therefore, parents need to be careful not to miss alarm bells... In some cases, a calm, long sleep is a joy, and in some cases it is vice versa. Let's try to figure it out.

How to understand that a baby is sleeping more than normal

Of course, all parents want the baby to be healthy and happy, to sleep more and cry less. Therefore, if the baby sleeps long enough, mom and dad do not stop rejoicing. But the doctors explain, you need to learn to understand: the baby is just sleepy, nothing bothers him, so he sleeps sweetly, or the child does not have the strength and energy for active pastime. The latter situation should definitely alert adults.

A newborn baby sleeps about 20 hours a day. The body adapts to the new world, environment... The child's organs and systems are tuned in to work: breathing, digesting food, etc. The brain, perceiving and processing such a huge amount of information, also needs a long rest.

However, you should know that the baby must wake up every 2.5 - 3.5 hours for feeding. After all, the body needs nutrients for full development and replenishment of energy reserves.

Sleep is very important for newborn babies and babies in their first year of life.

Doctors recommend that parents study information about the sleep rates of children of different ages. In this case, it will be easier for them to navigate in a particular situation. After all, if for a baby of the first month of life, twenty hours of sleep per day is the norm, then for a three-month-old baby this can be a cause for concern.

Video: the importance of sleep for a child

Table: sleep norms for children under the age of one year

In the first month after birth, a baby can wake up to 4-5 times a night to eat. This is normal because colostrum in the first few days, and then the milk is very quickly absorbed in the stomach of the crumbs and after a few hours the baby is hungry again. However, with the establishment of lactation, a specific feeding schedule is established. Some babies can sleep five to six hours straight at night without waking up for a snack. And this is also considered the norm if:

• the baby is active during the day: strive to perform various physical exercises, is interested in toys;
• gaining weight according to the norms;
• growth rates are also in line with the norm.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about the norms of children's sleep

Why so: the reasons why newborns and children under one year old sleep a lot

At the first and subsequent scheduled examinations, which take place once a month for children under one year old and are mandatory, the pediatrician must measure the growth of the baby and weigh him. Also asks parents about the baby's habits, his behavior while awake. Based on this, the doctor draws a conclusion about the health and developmental norms of the baby. However, if the parents noticed that the baby is losing appetite and eating poorly, sluggish, constantly sleepy, inactive, this is a reason to immediately consult a pediatrician for advice.

Long and difficult labor

Labor activity does not always proceed as nature intended. In some cases labor starts earlier due date or dragged on. And then the doctors are forced to use drugs. It can be pain relievers, pharmacological drug for stimulation generic activity etc. Mothers of babies who have gone through this long and difficult process often note that the baby sleeps a lot in the first few days. This is a kind of reaction to the action of medications.

Some medications can interfere with the development of the sucking reflex. As a result, the newborn does not receive enough nutrients, eats little and loses strength. Lack of energy and strength is the reason that the baby constantly sleeps and eats little.

If the mother noticed that the baby is constantly sleeping and practically does not wake up for feeding, it is necessary to contact a neonatologist or pediatrician. This is especially true for premature babies: they have sucking reflex poorly developed primarily due to a fragile organism.

Some mothers panic when a newborn loses weight: when discharged from the hospital, children lose about 10% of their total body weight, and this is the norm

Lack of nutrients

The most common reason a baby's long sleep is malnutrition. The fact is that from the moment of birth, the child's body begins to grow and develop. And this is noticeable every month, every week and even day. Most intensive growth the child's body occurs in the first twelve months of its life. But for full development, the child must receive the necessary vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. And all this is in breast milk or adapted infant formula. But the less the crumb eats, the less nutrients and nutrients enters the body. And if this situation continues for several days, the child simply does not have the strength to active pastime so he sleeps constantly.

Doctors insist that it is best to teach a baby from birth to the daily routine so that he knows what time to eat, sleep and play. Dr. Komarovsky insists that harmonious development the child depends on a well-established daily routine, when the brain signals the need to eat, sleep or take a walk.

First of all, parents need to determine why the baby refuses to eat. This can be influenced by various reasons:

• the child takes the breast incorrectly: the mother may have the wrong structure of the nipples, so the baby cannot grasp the nipple as it should. As a result, the crumb spends a huge amount of energy to get milk, but nothing happens or very little nutrient fluid enters the body. In the process of sucking, the baby is exhausted and falls asleep hungry;
  

  Doctors recommend that young mothers be sure to consult with a gynecologist, neonatologist or breastfeeding consultant, who will show you how to properly latch the baby to the breast so that he gets enough milk. In some cases, special nipple covers are helpful.

• non-compliance by the mother with the diet: not all women are of the opinion that during breastfeeding you need to limit yourself in many foods. However, it is worth remembering that some foods can affect the taste. breast milk... For example, garlic or onions make the milk bitter. Of course, a crumb, having tried such food several times, will refuse it and, as a result, be malnourished;
• unsettled lactation: in the first month after the birth of a child, the woman's body does not yet know how much milk is needed to feed the baby. Some mothers have so much of it that the baby chokes on it during feeding, so it turns away from the breast and does not want to eat anymore. Others have catastrophically little milk, so the baby remains hungry;
• infant illness: the most common causes are rhinitis and otitis media. With a stuffy nose, the baby cannot breathe during feeding, so he cannot eat much, is capricious and refuses to breast or a bottle with a mixture. Otitis media also causes inconvenience to the baby: the pain in the ear does not allow concentrating on the process of getting food;
• physiological features of the structure of the palate: in some children congenital pathologies palate. Therefore, the baby cannot suckle properly during feeding.

In order to establish a diet, it is necessary first of all to solve the problems that have arisen. To do this, it is better to consult a doctor who will give the necessary recommendations. In some cases, a woman does not have enough milk and the doctor advises switching to mixed feeding. Do not give up this option: a lack of nutrients can lead to a lack of body weight. This is a very serious situation, which often causes a child to lag physically and psychologically. If the baby is on artificial feeding and refuses to eat, it is worth switching to a different mixture. However, it is not recommended to resolve such issues on your own. It is better to come to an appointment with a pediatrician and consult with him.

Today, there is a huge selection on the shelves of stores and pharmacies. baby food, blends that are fortified with vitamins, minerals and probiotics. Perhaps the crumbs have an intolerance cow's milk and a mixture of goat's milk is suitable for him. The doctor will tell you the best option.

Mandatory vaccinations

Many mothers note that after the vaccination, the child sleeps for a very long time. Pediatricians explain that this reaction of the body is normal. The fact is that in response to vaccination, the baby may have a fever, so experts recommend giving the baby an antipyretic agent. Such drugs have soporific properties. So if your baby sleeps longer than usual after being vaccinated, don't worry.

Problems in the first year of life: colic and teething

Almost no child can do without it. If colic can bypass some children, then everyone's teeth are teething. Even if the baby's body does not respond to this process with an increase in temperature, sharp pain in the gums and ears, the baby can still restlessly sleep at night, often wake up and ask for a breast or a nipple. It is at night that the discomfort from teething gives the child the greatest discomfort, so his sleep is restless, weak, often superficial. The body did not have time to properly rest during the night, so during the day the baby can sleep longer than usual. This is a kind of compensation for not getting enough sleep at night.

This situation is normal, because the body is trying to restore strength and strengthen immunity, which is weakened against the background of physical discomfort from colic or teething.

Serious illnesses

No matter how much parents want their babies to be always healthy, it is not always possible to avoid diseases. During the cold season, the baby can catch the flu virus or catch a cold. Not yet strong enough gastrointestinal tract cannot adequately fight the rotavirus, and newborn babies are often diagnosed with jaundice while still in the hospital. To fight the disease, the child needs a lot of strength and energy, so the baby sleeps a lot. Doctors keep repeating that sleep for a baby is best medicine... So the body recovers faster after an illness.

Prolonged sleep during and after a previous illness is a normal physiological process

Doctors draw the attention of parents to the need for adequate nutrition for the infant during illness. This is especially true for rotavirus and poisoning. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so your baby should get enough fluids: breast milk, formula, and water.

It is also important to establish the feeding process immediately after birth. In the first days of a child's life, bilirubin should be excreted from the body. For this process to proceed normally, enough fluids during feeding. If the baby does not eat well, due to a lack of fluid, the concentration of bilirubin in the blood does not decrease, but increases, which leads to the development of physiological jaundice.

If the child heat, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing during sleep is a reason to urgently call a doctor. Doctor will appreciate general state crumbs and prescribe a treatment regimen. You should not risk your child's health and self-medicate. Doctors note that prolonged sleep during or after illness should not cause concern for parents if:

• the child breathes normally during sleep, there is no wheezing and breath holding;
• body temperature is not higher than 37 degrees;
• the baby's skin is pinkish, not too red, not pale or bluish.

External stimuli

Babies still have insufficiently strengthened nervous system, so children are very sensitive to quarrels between parents, constant TV operation, bright lighting and other factors. The body, as it were, turns on a protective mode, trying to abstract itself from these stimuli. However, such a dream is restless, superficial, children may even cry or sob often while resting. As a result, the body does not recover sufficiently and the child continues to sleep for a long time.

Of course, this does not mean that the baby should be laid in a completely dark room during the day and in absolute silence. But parents must create optimal conditions for a calm baby sleep: sunlight should not shine directly into the eyes of the baby, it is better to turn off the TV or turn it on at minimum volume.

Parents must organize comfortable conditions for the rest of the kid

Calling an ambulance: when to worry

Of course, in some cases, prolonged sleep is a variant of the norm, but parents must constantly monitor the child's condition. After all, deterioration is possible at any moment and the main thing is not to waste time. Doctors identify several symptoms in which it is necessary urgent care baby:

• the child sleeps for more than 5 hours in one position and does not wake up;
• a sharp rise in temperature;
• the baby's mucous membranes are dry, the skin becomes blue;
• the baby sleeps for several hours in a row and cries in a dream, but does not wake up;
• shortness of breath or holding it back;
• the baby has infrequent urination: less than five diapers per day. This indicates dehydration of the body.

To wake up or not to wake up: that is the question

Often parents are happy if their baby sleeps for a long time and is not capricious. However, it is worth keeping an eye on the time so that the baby does not go hungry, because each feeding is very important for a growing body. Doctors note that at night a child can sleep without waking up for 6 hours, and during the day - no more than four. If the baby does not wake up after this time interval, it is recommended to wake him up and feed him. As soon as the child replenishes the supply of nutrients, he may want to sleep again. This is normal for newborns and babies.

Dr. Komarovsky has his own point of view on this matter: each child develops at an individual rate, so the body itself knows how much time it needs to sleep. Parents should not wake their baby up every three hours to feed him. But this rule only applies if the baby is completely healthy, eats well and is gaining weight. Otherwise, it is necessary to consult a doctor who can determine the cause of such a long sleep and explain to the parents the procedure.

Often there are situations when the baby simply confused day with night: during the daytime, the child sleeps most of the time, but at night it is the other way around. In this case, Dr. Komarovsky insists that the baby must be woken up during the day, actively spend time with him, so that by the evening the baby is tired and sleeps peacefully at night. As soon as the body rebuilds to a normal sleep and wakefulness regime, the baby will wake up on its own at the right time.

Video: is it worth waking a child

How to wake up a child correctly

You need to wake up the baby calmly and carefully, because the baby can get scared and start crying. Such stressful situations we don't need anything. Experts insist that you need to wake up the baby in the superficial phase of sleep. It can be easily identified by several criteria:

• the baby's eyelids twitch a little, you can see how the eyeballs move under them;
• the baby can laugh or whimper in a dream, facial expressions change;
• legs and arms may move slightly;
• the infant can suck with his lips.

In this case, the child can be woken up. How to do this, each mother decides for herself. Some babies wake up quickly when their parents pat them on the back or arm, others open their eyes, smelling milk or formula. Here are some ways to wake up sleepyhead:

• start changing your diaper;
• if the room is warm, you can open the baby and start undressing him;
• gently massage the arms or legs of the baby;
• pat your tummy or back;
• bring the bottle of formula or breast to your lips. Children smell milk instantly. If the baby does not wake up, you can drop milk on the baby's lips;
• sing a song or talk to a baby.

The main rule is that actions should not be harsh and accompanied by a strict and too loud voice so that the baby does not get scared.

What parents say

Parents differ on how they sleep for long periods of time. Some moms and dads do not even suspect that such a long sleep can signal serious health problems of the baby. Others believe that the baby needs to be woken up every 2-3 hours for feeding, regardless of whether the baby wants to wake up or not. From the experience of previous generations, many moms and dads concluded that a child's prolonged sleep can be hereditary factor so do not worry and wake up the baby. Today, pediatricians do not insist on hourly feeding for children at breastfeeding therefore, meals on demand may include longer breaks.

But doctors recommend not to lose sight of the obvious facts: if a child eats little and sleeps a lot, is lethargic, practically not interested in the surrounding stop, does not respond to the voice of mom or dad - this is a reason to seek help.

I had this with my daughter, I had epidural anesthesia. I'm not sure if these are its consequences, since my daughter rarely cried at all in infancy and for about three months she slept all night from 10 pm to 6 am. The first month I was generally surprised at her calmness, the only thing is that we lost a little weight, as I tried to feed on demand - but she did not demand! The doctor said to wake and feed.

My first month slept very well, woke up to eat in 3-4 hours, slept at night from 12 to 6 in the morning, it never occurred to me that this was abnormal 🙂 Then I started sleeping less, and still eats the same 🙂 ps. the increase in the first months was 800-1000g

My amazing "spit" was 🙂 They also advised at first to wake up for feeding, but this option did not work. Up to 2 years old, I slept 2 times a day, and for an hour and a half or two.

Making plans

https://deti.mail.ru/forum/zdorove/detskoe_zdorove/novorozhdennyj_podolgu_spit_normalno_li_jeto_stoit_li_budit/

Mine used to sleep for 8 hours, and my son now sleeps at night for 7 hours ... ... my mother says I was the same ... apparently, heredity

Anna

I always slept a lot. At night, however, I woke up to eat. But I did not cry. I ate and continue to sleep. Up to 4, I slept for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. Now (at six) the last one wakes up in the garden)). But during periods of wakefulness I was always quite active, so I didn’t take a steam bath. Well, I like to sleep. I also love, but I can’t ((

anna antonova

https://deti.mail.ru/forum/zdorove/detskoe_zdorove/novorozhdennyj_podolgu_spit_normalno_li_jeto_stoit_li_budit/?page=2

Doctors never stop repeating that every child is different: some sleep more, some sleep less. Not only rest depends on healthy sleep, but also full development baby. After all, the body perceives so many new things and it takes time to process the information and prepare for the next discoveries. But there are situations when prolonged sleep is dangerous not only for the health of the baby, but also for his life. Therefore, parents need to carefully monitor the condition of the baby every day. If something worries about the behavior of the child, it is better to consult a pediatrician or neurologist. Do not self-medicate and endanger the baby's life.

Is your newborn baby healthy? What you need to know about a newborn when going to the hospital?

thanks

Healthy newborn: general information, birth weight, concepts of premature and post-term newborn

It is considered healthy newborn, born at 37 - 42 weeks, with a birth weight of 2.5 - 4.0 kg, who does not need resuscitation and does not reveal any physical defects at the first examination by a neonatologist in the delivery room.

If a baby was born within 36 weeks and 6 days or earlier, it is considered premature if more than 42 full weeks- post-term. The gestational age is calculated from the first day last menstruation, which took place in a woman, and is measured in weeks. The conditions of prematurity and postmaturity are often associated with multiple various diseases, including life-threatening ones, therefore such children must be observed by an experienced neonatologist.

Children weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth are small, and over 4 kg are large. Even if the child was born on time, his weight may not correspond to the norm. Such children also require closer attention and in-depth examination.

Height, circumference of the head and chest of the newborn

In addition to the body weight in the delivery room, the newborn is measured with the help of a stadiometer and a measuring tape, the length of the body and the circumference of the head and chest... These indicators make it possible to assess the harmony of the child's physical development, to identify some hereditary diseases, endocrine pathology and damage to the central nervous system.

Normally, the growth of a newborn at birth is 45-56 cm.On average, about 50 cm. It is logical that premature babies have more short stature- this is not a sign of inharmonious development.

The circumference of the chest is measured with a measuring tape, which is applied to the back of the angles of the shoulder blades (the most bottom point scapula), and in front above the nipples. Normal values the circumference of the chest of a full-term newborn is 33-35 cm.

To measure the circumference of the head, it is necessary to apply a measuring tape from the back to the most protruding point of the back of the head, and from the front, draw it directly above the eyebrows. Normally, this figure is 33 - 37.5 cm, it should not exceed the circumference of the chest by more than 2-4 cm. Head measurement is an irreplaceable procedure in the diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system. During the first week of life, the head must be measured every day. Normally, in the first month of life, the head grows no more than 3-4 cm, if the head grows more intensively (more than 0.3 - 0.5 cm per day) - this indicates the development of hydrocephalus, very serious illness... This rule does not work for children of the first day of life. In the first 24 hours, the head circumference may increase by 1.0 - 1.5 cm - this is the head restoring its normal shape after passing through the narrow birth canal.

The first cry of a newborn

Immediately after birth, the child freezes for a few seconds, does not react to any external stimuli. This condition is called "catharsis" of the newborn. Some philosophers believe that it is at this moment that the soul is laid in the child. After that, the newborn takes the first breath and makes the first cry. The first cry of a newborn should be sonorous and emotional. And most importantly, the baby should cry within the first 30 seconds after birth. If this does not happen, he needs resuscitation.

Apgar score

At the end of the first and fifth minutes of the child's life, the neonatologist assesses the child's condition according to the Apgar scale according to 5 signs: skin color, breathing, heartbeat, muscle tone and reflexes. The maximum possible score is 10 points. A newborn with Apgar scores greater than or equal to 7/7 is considered healthy. If the score is lower, the child needs urgent resuscitation. This means that he may need additional oxygen for breathing, artificial ventilation of the lungs and chest compressions. In these cases, the baby is taken away from the mother and the entire range of resuscitation measures continues until the child's condition stabilizes.

The first acquaintance of the newborn with the mother: skin-to-skin contact

Immediately after birth, a healthy newborn is wiped dry with a diaper, a hat and socks are put on to prevent heat loss, and placed on the mother's stomach. The mother and child are covered with a common blanket, so that the contact between them is skin-to-skin. Such close contact should last at least 1.5-2 hours. Everything necessary procedures associated with the newborn's first toilet can be postponed, and the first examination by a neonatologist takes place directly on the mother's chest. It has been reliably proven that this simple procedure reduces morbidity during the neonatal period, promotes the production of milk in the mother and the formation of the maternal instinct.

First feeding of a newborn

While on the mother's belly, the newborn usually finds the breast on its own or with the help of a midwife within the first half hour and begins to suckle. The first feed should not be forced: the breast should be offered strongly, but not aggressively. Some babies are not ready to start eating right away; it is enough just to hold them against the breast.

Newborn body temperature

The body temperature of a newborn is usually measured 15 minutes after birth, and then 2 hours later, when the mother and child have already been transferred to the joint ward. The normal body temperature is 36.5-37 C. In the first hours after childbirth, the child is prone to hypothermia. To avoid this, the newborn always wear a hat and socks. Loose clothing and skin-to-skin contact will also help keep you warm. A tight swaddling and bathing, on the contrary, contributes to hypothermia of the newborn, therefore, these practices have already been abandoned in many maternity hospitals.
On the next day, the child is more prone to overheating. If a newborn has a fever, the first thing to really evaluate is: is he dressed too warmly?

Newborn skin color

Immediately after birth, the skin of the newborn has a bluish tint. The first breath saturates the blood with oxygen and the skin begins to turn pink. In the first hours of life, a slight blueness of the hands and feet may persist, which gradually disappears. After an hour and a half, many newborns' skin becomes bright red... This is not a pathology, but is associated with the peculiarity of the development of capillaries. In full-term newborns, redness disappears on the second day, in premature infants it lasts longer. The most frightening sign is the pallor of the skin. White skin in newborns, this is always a severe pathology.

Head shape and fontanelle

In a newborn, the head is often asymmetric (only children can boast of a perfectly flat head, born by caesarean section). A large, dense bump is often visible on it. This is the so-called "birth tumor". It will resolve on its own in a few days without any treatment. Single points of hemorrhage on a generic tumor are not a cause for concern. The same small hemorrhages can be seen in the eyes, especially if the labor was long and difficult. They also go away on their own over time.

Slightly above the forehead, along the midline of the head, the newborn has a soft pliable area - a large fontanelle. In this place, the vault of the skull has not yet fully ossified. Normal sizes large fontanel 1-3 cm. fontanelle bigger size can occur in premature, immature babies, as well as with an increase in intracranial pressure (in this case, it also swells). Children with a small fontanel usually develop normally, only in some cases it leads to the development of a neurological problem. Some neuropediatricians prescribe to these children "crying for 5 minutes - 3 times a day." During crying, intracranial pressure rises and the bones of the skull "diverge", promoting the growth of the head.

Breathing Newborn

The newborn is breathing irregularly. Breathing may be absent for a few seconds and then followed by a series of very rapid breathing movements. Sometimes the child takes a convulsive breath, followed by a noisy long exhalation. Over time, these breaths become less and less. Respiratory rate is normally 30-60 per minute. Breaths greater than 60 per minute indicate severe lung damage.

The concept of the tone of the newborn: "posture of the embryo" and hypotonia

Normally, the arms and legs of the child are in a bent position, symmetrical, the hands are clenched into fists, the head is somewhat brought to the body, this is the “fetal position” characteristic of the first months of life.
If the child is lethargic, "soft", arms and legs hang freely - this is an unfavorable symptom called "muscle hypotonia". It can be found in diseases of the nervous system, infections of the newborn and other serious illnesses.

Sleep and wakefulness

A newborn baby sleeps up to 20 hours a day. Waking periods are usually limited to feedings. The awakened child is chaotically fingering with arms and legs. The eyes may be closed for the first few days. If they are open, the eyeballs move as if the child wants to fix his gaze, but he does not succeed. Sometimes you may notice a slight squint, which resolves on its own by the end of the first week and does not require treatment.

First stool and urination

The baby's first stool is called meconium. It is viscous, black in color, reminiscent of tar. Normally, meconium should go away on the first day, if the meconium has not gone away, doctors choose a wait and see tactic on the second day. If the intestines are not emptied and then the child is additionally examined to identify the reasons for this. pathological condition and its correction. Very rarely, in healthy children, meconium leaves on the third day.

Sometimes meconium leaves prematurely in the womb. In this case, gynecologists talk about "dirty amniotic fluid". This is often the case with intrauterine infection of the fetus and if the mother received narcotic painkillers or "drug sleep" during childbirth.
It's pretty dangerous condition, as meconium can enter the respiratory tract and disrupt the respiratory activity of the newborn.

In the first 3 days, the newborn rarely urinates, 2-4 times a day. The first urination usually takes place between 12 and 24 hours of age. Gradually, the amount of urination increases, reaching 20 to 25 times by 7-10 days of life.

If the newborn is sick?

What if the newborn does not meet the health criteria above? Do not panic! Many diseases of the neonatal period, diagnosed and correctly treated in time, disappear without leaving any consequences for the unborn child. Trust the health of your children qualified specialists but don't forget your role as well. Any neonatologist will confirm that 90% of success in treating a newborn is proper care, care and attention from the mother and other relatives, and only 10% falls on the shoulders of a specialist.

Health - what is it? Definition of health according to WHO.

The World Health Organization (WHO) gives a very wise, philosophical definition of health. According to WHO, health is not only the absence of physical defects and diseases, but a state of complete physical, psychological and social well-being. WHO experts focus on the second part of the definition and emphasize that love, care and attention of loved ones are indispensable in maintaining the health of children. Even a sick child, surrounded by maternal affection, has a chance to feel healthy.

Before use, you must consult a specialist. Child's world

Newborn baby perceives the world like a stream of rapidly changing sensations. All feelings, sounds, images are unfamiliar to him and are not connected with each other. The baby has no sense of time, sensation, and he cannot separate himself from the world around him. There is no cause and effect in his system of thought. Events occur as if by themselves, independently of each other. The baby is hungry and hears his own cry. Does this cry originate within his being or does it come from somewhere outside? Maybe crying and hunger disappear because mom has come? The child does not know the answer and cannot ask a question ... Since the disorder causes crying, and crying is followed by consolation, a connection between these events is gradually built in the child's mind. He sees you at his bed and already feels that now a feeling of comfort and peace will come. After some time, the baby will begin to intuitively feel safe, knowing that his desires will be satisfied. As the child's confidence in you grows, your confidence in your abilities grows stronger. You are already able to correctly assess his inclinations, you know his strengths, you can adapt to the pace of development of the baby and satisfy his needs. Now you become the most important person in his life who understands his needs and character. During the first days and weeks, the bond of love between you and your baby grows stronger. These are warm and affectionate relationship will be the first lesson of love for him. Throughout his life, he will draw energy from them and build on their basis relationships with the outside world.

Motor skills

A newborn baby is not able to eat or move on its own, but he is far from helpless. He enters the world having in stock a fairly large set of behaviors based on unconditioned reflexes. Most of them are vital for the baby. For example, if a newborn baby is stroked on the cheek, he turns the head and looks for the nipple with his lips. If you put the pacifier in your mouth, your baby will automatically suckle it. Another set of reflexes protects the child from physical injury. If you cover your baby's nose and mouth, he will twirl his head from side to side. When an object approaches his face, he automatically blinks his eyes. Some reflexes of the newborn are not vital, but it is from them that the level of development of the child can be determined. Examining a newly born baby, the pediatrician holds him in different positions, suddenly makes loud sounds, and runs his finger along the baby's foot. The way the child reacts to these and other actions, the doctor is convinced that the reflexes of the newborn are normal and the nervous system is in order. While most reflexes inherent in a newborn disappear during the first year of life, some of them become the basis for acquired forms of behavior. At first, the child sucks instinctively, but as he gains experience, he adapts and changes his actions depending on specific conditions. The same can be said about the grasping reflex. A newborn baby squeezes his fingers the same way every time, no matter what object is placed in his palm. However, when the baby is four months old, he will already learn how to control his movements. First he will focus on the object, then he will reach out and grab it. We tend to believe that all newborns begin their development from the same starting point, but they differ markedly from each other in terms of the level of motor activity. Some children are surprisingly lethargic and passive. Lying on their stomach or on their back, they remain almost motionless until they are lifted and shifted. Others, on the contrary, are noticeably active. If such a child is put face down in the crib, he will slowly but persistently move towards her head until he hits the very corner. Very active children can reflexively roll from belly to back. Another important difference in newborns is the level of muscle tone. Some children look very tense: their knees are constantly bent, their hands are tightly pressed to the body, their fingers are tightly clenched into fists. Others are more relaxed, their limb muscle tone is not so strong. The third difference between newborns is the degree of development of their sensory-motor apparatus. Some babies, especially small babies or those born prematurely, can be very easily thrown off balance. At any, even the most insignificant noise, they shudder with their whole being, and their arms and legs begin to move erratically. Sometimes without any apparent reason a shudder runs through their little bodies. Other babies look well developed from birth. They seem to know how to put their hand in or near their mouth, and they often do this to calm down. When they move their legs, their movements are ordered and rhythmic. The different levels of development of motor skills, muscle tone and sensory-motor apparatus, which are observed in newborns, reflect the peculiarities in the organization of the nervous system. Children who are active, well developed and have normal muscle tone are considered light children by their parents. It is much more difficult to care for passive, underdeveloped children with sluggish or, conversely, too tense muscle tone, which is observed in the first months of life. Fortunately, with the caring care and patience of parents, most children overcome these difficulties and quickly catch up with their peers in their development.

The ability to see, hear, feel

A child is born with an innate repertoire of reactions that help him adapt to the world around him. He squints his eyes when a bright light comes on or something comes close to his face. For a short distance, he can trace a moving object or a human face with his gaze. A newborn child also has an innate ability to receive new information through his senses. Curiously, he even displays a certain preference for what he sees. Typically, babies prefer dotted configurations and are especially attracted to moving objects and black and white combinations. Think about the amazing properties of the human eye. It is difficult to resist the conclusion that the child has a unique ability to establish eye contact with own parents. In addition to the innate visual ability, the newborn also has excellent hearing. We are not only sure that the baby hears from the moment of birth, but there is every reason to assume that he hears while still in the womb. The newborn turns its head in the direction from which the sound is coming from, especially if it is an unfamiliar sound, and, conversely, turns away from repetitive, loud or continuous sounds. Even more striking is the fact that a child is able to distinguish a human voice from any other sound. In other words, in addition to the innate ability to look you in the eyes, the child also has the ability to hear your voice. However, despite the fact that a newborn is able to perceive sound and turn in the direction from where it comes from, his visual and auditory systems are not sufficiently coordinated. If a child hears a noise that is directly in front of him, he will not instinctively look for it. This coordination takes time to develop. By giving the child the opportunity to get acquainted with objects that attract his attention both by their appearance and by their sound, parents lay the foundation in the child's mind for the ability to connect what he saw with what he heard. So far, it has been about the child's ability to see and hear. Now it's time to talk about other sensations: about gustatory, about smell and touch. Children love sweets and refuse salty, sour and bitter poverty. They also turn away from strong and pungent odors. It is also known that newborns respond to various kinds of touch. While vigorous rubbing with a terry towel will excite the baby, gentle massage can put him to sleep. By rubbing the body with your fingertips or a piece of soft silk cloth, you can bring it to a state of calm wakefulness. The baby is especially pleased to feel the touch human skin... Many mothers who breastfeed their babies say that the baby begins to suck more actively if his hand is on the mother's breast. We have described several typical ways in which children respond to different kinds of stimuli, when the child's responses to them are manifested in different ways, depending on the specific conditions. Dr. Prechtl and Dr. Braselton, and other researchers who study newborns, note that babies have different levels of anxiety. This level of excitability determines the behavior of children. Upon awakening, the child may be in a calm wakefulness or active wakefulness, or may scream or cry. How a newborn reacts to what is happening in the world around him most of all depends on the degree of his arousal. A child who is in a state of calm wakefulness, having heard the call, will immediately stop his actions and try to turn in the direction of the sound that was heard. The same kid in an agitated or irritated state may simply not notice the call.

Understanding your child

The period of infancy is the time when both the child and the parents adapt to each other. Caring for a baby forces adults to reorganize their daily routine. The newborn is both physically and psychologically adapted to life outside the mother's body. An integral part of this process is the child's self-regulation. He learns to independently regulate the degree of his activity, so as to smoothly transition from the state of sleep to wakefulness and vice versa. In the first weeks after your baby is born, you will have to spend a lot of energy helping your baby to master these transitional states. An awake child reacts to sounds by staring intently at the faces of those around him, and it seems that he has an attentive and intelligent gaze. At such moments, the baby's energy is aimed at perceiving information, and then the parents have the opportunity to study and communicate. with him. However, exercising too intensely can tire the child. The newborn cannot get out of the state of excitement on its own. Therefore, it is especially important that parents feel in time that the baby needs rest. If his mouth wrinkles, his fists clench and he nervously fiddles with his legs, then it's time to rest. Periods of activity and rest in a child's life should be interspersed. By setting up a daily routine, you will help your little one to move from one state to another in a natural way. After feeding, for example, you can hold it in an upright position, leaning against your shoulder, or, picking it up, gently shake it. Sometimes a child can come to rest even after a loud cry. If the awakened baby begins to be capricious and it is clear that he is about to cry, parents, as a rule, try in every possible way to prevent this from happening. However, in some cases, it may be more appropriate to give the opportunity to shout properly. Apparently, crying relieves stress in the child and helps him move from one state to another. Even if immediately after a nap he cries, having missed the state of calm wakefulness, by crying he can find it. However, as a rule, it is very difficult for a newborn to come out of a crying state without assistance. All children need help to calm down. However, each of them requires an individual approach. Some children become quiet if parents take them in their arms or wrap them in a warm soft blanket. Others, on the contrary, get irritated at any restriction of freedom and calm down much faster when they are laid on a flat surface, without covering or hindering their movements. Most kids love to be carried or rocked. However, each baby needs to have its own approach. Consider which of the following methods work best for your child. Walk around the room, hugging the baby to the shoulder. Hold the baby by rocking from side to side. Hold it against the shoulder and rhythmically pat it on the back. Putting the child on your lap, move them rhythmically up and down or from side to side, or gently pat the baby on the buttocks. Sitting in a rocking chair, put the child face down on your knees or, holding it against your shoulder, keep it upright, swinging slowly. Swing quickly and rhythmically in a rocking chair. Put the baby in the stroller and roll it back and forth. Take a walk, putting the child in a stroller or in a special backpack. Put the child in the hanging home din-chok and gently shake it. Take the child for a ride in the car. Sounds, as well as movements, have a calming effect on children, but here, too, babies have their own preferences. Some people calm down faster when they hear continuous sounds of ticking of a clock, noise washing machine, sounds that simulate a heartbeat, etc. Others respond better to low conversation, monotonous singing, or soft whispers. There are also children who like music - lullabies, classical recordings, melodies from music boxes. So far, we have talked about how caring and loving parents help newborns adapt to life outside. maternal womb... In turn, the child also influences the lives of adults. He helps them adjust to their new role- parents. With the birth of a child, they acquire a new one social status, and a very close relationship is built between them and the baby. The child can report his internal state only in two ways - smiling and crying. The development process of these methods is practically the same. In the first weeks of a baby's life, they appear as if by themselves, which reflects his reaction to those physiological processes that occur in his body. A cry is a sign of discomfort or pain, a smile is an indication that the child is at rest and is enjoying it. Gradually, the balance begins to shift. Crying and smiles are increasingly regulated by external factors, and as a result, the child begins, of course, without words, to communicate directly with the parents. It is especially interesting to observe how the smile changes in the first one or two months of a child's life. Initially, a wandering smile appears on the baby's face during sleep. Then, at two weeks of age, he begins to smile when his eyes are open, which usually happens after feeding. At the same time, a smile is usually accompanied by a glassy, ​​absent gaze. By the third or fourth week in a smile occur qualitative changes... The baby reacts to the loud voice of the parents with whom he makes eye contact, and eventually the baby rewards adults with a fully conscious smile. A child who is content, calm, and in contact with the environment most of the time instills confidence and optimism in parents. A nervous and capricious baby who is not easy to calm down, despite the caring attitude of adults, gives them much more problems... Those parents who have their first child often associate the child's irritability with the fact that they are inexperienced and do not know how to properly handle him. Once they understand that hyperexcitability the baby depends on the internal physiological processes taking place in his body, they will regain self-confidence. This will help them get through the challenges that await them in the first weeks of a child's life. Through trial and error, parents gain experience and find own way soothe your baby - swaddle, swing vigorously, or simply give him the opportunity to scream for a while until he falls asleep. It is very important that parents understand from the very beginning that the difficulties experienced by a child in the first year of life are in no way connected with the peculiarities of his behavior and character in the future. During the first month of a baby's life, most parents sometimes experience negative emotions. A young mother suffering from constant crying of children, exhausted by childbirth and sleepless nights, may become depressed or irritable towards other family members. The father, despite his proud smile, may sometimes feel that the baby not only restricts his freedom, but also deprives his wife's attention and care. As children get older, their sleep lasts longer and their parents adjust to a different daily routine. At the end of the first difficult period, when the relationship between parents and the baby is just developing, family members will be able to fully reward each other with the joy of communication.

HOW TO DO WITH A NEWBORN

Most difficult task facing a newborn child during the first month of his life - to adapt to conditions outside the mother's body. The baby sleeps most of the time. Upon waking up, he begins to behave in accordance with his inner physiological state... Periods of active wakefulness, when the child is ready to perceive new information, are rare and short-lived. Therefore, you should not plan in advance for activities with a newborn, just try to use an opportunity. This opportunity appears when the child is full and in a good mood. Remember that children have different thresholds of excitability, and if you overwork your baby, he may start to worry, scream and cry.

Practical advice

Take care of your child no more than is necessary. He needs human warmth, and therefore he loves to be picked up. Try to find out how your baby feels about this. Some parts get nervous and annoyed when held in their arms for too long. It happens that a capricious baby calms down if you put him in a comfortable children's backpack. However, if the child is very rarely in his arms, he may become lethargic and lethargic. Change the position of the child When the child is awake, try to vary their poses. Let him lie on his stomach for a while, then on his back or side. Being in different positions, the baby will learn to move his arms and legs. Children's calendar Hang a calendar and pencil next to your changing or dressing table. Each new achievement of your child can be recorded in a separate column. Enjoy your time with your baby Laugh and have fun with your child. Sometimes he seems to be able to express his joy. Don't be afraid to spoil your child Try to quickly fulfill his desires. If you give your baby enough attention when he needs it, he will not annoy you again. Treat your baby with care When returning home from the hospital, bring your newborn in a comfortable, reliable vehicle.

Everyday affairs

Feeding time Save good mood Regardless of whether you are breastfeeding or using a bottle, try to do it in a way that makes both the baby and you feel comfortable and relaxed. Remember that your baby knows better than you do when he's full, so don't try to force him to eat a little more. Avoid coercion to avoid losing the child's trust. Reach out and touch While the baby is eating, gently stroke his head, shoulders and fingers, then feeding he will associate with your gentle touch. Some babies like to listen to singing while eating, while others stop sucking when they hear Mom's voice. If your baby is easily distracted, postpone singing for a break or while your baby is spitting up. Bathing First baths Bathe your baby in the baby bath. (Check with your doctor before bathing your baby for the first time.) While bathing, hum gently, rubbing gently with a soft sponge or cloth. If your child slips and needs a soft pad, place a towel on the bottom of the tub. Communication through touch After bathing, it is good to have a massage. Using baby cream or vegetable oil, gently massage your baby's shoulders, arms, legs, feet, back, abdomen and buttocks. Keep doing this while your child is in good spirits. Swaddling / dressing Kisses on the tummy When changing your baby's diapers, gently kiss his tummy, fingers and toes. These gentle touches help the child learn to become aware of the parts of their body. At the same time, he not only feels his body, but also feels your love. Undress your child Do not wrap your baby up. If the room is 20 - 25 degrees, he will feel good in a light shirt and diaper. Children become overheated, sweaty, and uncomfortable if dressed too warmly. Time relax Turn on the radio to the child When putting your baby in the crib, turn on the radio, tape recorder, or wind up the music box. Quiet music will calm him down. Record the noise of the washing machine Instead of buying an expensive toy that makes sounds, record the noise of the dishwasher or washing machine on tape. The monotonous hum that a child hears will help him calm down and fall asleep. Give your baby a musical toy If from an early age in the mind of the child to associate the time of sleep with a soft musical toy, it will become integral element this process. As they get older, some children resist being placed in the crib, and this toy will help them calm down and fall asleep. Use a dummy Give your baby a pacifier before bed. Children who are accustomed to a pacifier from an early age can fall asleep on their own. If your baby refuses to nipple, then at first you can put it in his mouth for only a few minutes, until he gets used to it. If the baby continues to persist, find another way. Stroller ride If the weather permits, take your child for a walk, rolling him in a stroller. Constant movement will help him fall asleep. A game of shadows Children often wake up at night. Leave the night lamp on - soft light will allow the child to observe the bizarre outlines of the surrounding objects. Diapers and soft pillows Over the past few months of uterine state, the child has become accustomed to sleeping in cramped conditions. Therefore, he will feel good if he is swaddled or covered with pillows. Many stores sell hanging hammocks that can be attached to the inside of a regular crib. Some of them are equipped with a special device that creates the illusion of a mother's heartbeat in the child. The rhythmic sounds remind the baby of those he heard while in the womb; this calms him down and he falls asleep.

The baby is restlessly sleeping

Everyone knows that children grow up in a dream, while restoring strength, replenishing energy losses. When a child sleeps, his body fully develops and in the event of a sleep disorder of a small person, the occurrence of negative consequences... The long sleep of newborn babies is completely normal occurrence and it says that the child is developing correctly. However, sleep disturbance in newborn babies is very common. This, as a rule, happens due to the occurrence of problems with the development of the baby's body, which in the future can provide bad influence on the state of his health.

Why does a baby sleep restlessly

Restless sleep infant may be associated with violations of his diet or other troubles. It may be some kind of illness, a violation of his living conditions.

The reasons for the restless sleep of an infant include the following factors:

1. Very often, anxiety during infant sleep is caused by a reason that traditional healers called "subcutaneous bristle", another official name- lanugo. This is what they call fine hairs covering the body of a newborn baby. When the baby is two weeks old, the bristles fall out and normal bulbous hairs grow in their places. During this time, the baby's skin may itch, which causes restless sleep.
2. The child can sleep restlessly from the heat, while he sweats, his skin turns red and the mucous membranes dry out. You should open the window, water the baby and humidify the room.
3. The cold can also cause anxiety in a child. In this case, his skin acquires a bluish tint, his arms, legs and back become cold. The child should be warmed and dressed.
4. A child's poor sleep can be triggered by uncomfortable or dirty bed and dirty clothes. The baby begins to scream and a mark from a button or seam may remain on his skin. You should examine him and replace his clothes.
5. Loud parties don't do anything sound sleep baby. Parents should decide what is more important to them - their own fun or the health of their child.
6. Constipation can interfere with sleeping. In this case, he vainly pushes and touches his legs, his stomach becomes hard, the stool is sparse, and the feces harden and acquire a dark shade. Before feeding, the child should be held on the tummy, and laid to sleep in the frog position on the stomach. You need to feed him only with special mixtures, give him low-boiled water. You can smear the anus with baby cream and put special candles

What to do with a restless baby at night

In infants, there has not yet been a clear distribution between the modes of sleep and active wakefulness. However, as each month progresses, biological rhythms are becoming more and more similar to ours. So that the baby does not feel anxiety at night, measures should be taken to prevent discomfort and unpleasant sensations that he may begin to experience.

It is very important to change the diaper in a timely manner, monitor the air humidity in the room and prevent the temperature in the children's room from rising above 22 degrees Celsius and not falling below 18 degrees on the same scale. In the event that the child begins to experience discomfort during sleep, it will be quite easy to wake him up.

The child should establish a normal daytime routine. Before going to sleep at night, the child should have at least four consecutive hours of wakefulness. If the child does not sleep during the daytime, you should engage him in some active activity that involves physical activity, but you should not overwork him. Receiving no physical activity, the child will sleep poorly at night.

The child should be taught to fall asleep on his own, for which he should be laid in a crib and not carried on his hands, rocking him. Accustomed to the hands, children have difficulty falling asleep on their own. The child should be taught to sleep in his room.

The baby is restless during feeding

Breastfeeding is a big science and it often happens that it does not go very smoothly. When feeding, your baby may be anxious, cry, and naughty. Despite the fact that the baby and the mother are endowed with certain reflexes by nature, they need a certain experience in order for the feeding to go smoothly and calmly. Of particular importance when feeding is the posture in which it is performed. It is not uncommon for an infant's restless behavior to be attributed to a feeding disorder.

Causes of anxiety for babies during feeding

During the first few weeks after the birth of the child, he and the mother gradually get used to each other and the mother is often unclear about the behavior of her baby. Very often she does not understand why the baby is anxious during feeding and does not eat. There can be many explanations for this, which will be discussed below.

1. The first thing that can occur to a nursing mother is a lack of breast milk. The biggest difficulty in this is the fact that very often a mother does not know how much milk her child receives, how much milk he needs and how much she has in general. To find answers to all of these simple questions, you should do a few simple steps:

• first of all, monitor how the child relieves and do correct conclusions... If, after six days, the mother receives six wet diapers, therefore, the baby has enough milk;
• it is completely normal to feed frequently. During the first few weeks of a baby's life, he needs eight to twelve breastfeeds throughout the day. In the beginning, most likely, the mother will need to constantly hold the child in her arms, since for several hours he will ask to eat constantly, and then fall asleep for several hours. After he learns to suck effectively, the number of feedings will begin to decrease;
• it is necessary to constantly monitor the weight of the child. After two weeks, the baby should regain its original weight, after which, for three months, gain at least 200 grams within a week.

In the event that the mother continues to squeeze because of her lack of milk, it makes sense for her to contact a lactation specialist in order to get all the necessary advice and advice on how to increase the amount of milk in a woman, if she needs it.

1. The baby may become restless when the mother's breast swells, which may occur during the first few weeks after delivery. To reduce swelling, you should express some milk with your hands and the breast will become softer, after which it will be easy for the baby to pick it up. It is not worth expressing too much milk, as this can cause milk production. To reduce swelling and painful sensations cold compresses should be applied to the chest.
2. If the mother flat nipples, the baby may also be anxious about feeding. To eliminate the phenomenon, you should put on special pads between feedings. Pulling the nipples is facilitated by turning on the breast pump before latching the baby to the breast. At the same time, the milk flow turns on, contributing to the fact that the child will stop crying and start eating.
3. In addition, the child may be anxious because of his wrong position on the chest. The baby and his mother may be uncomfortable because there is little pressure on the breast, as a result of which there is a violation of the milk flow. If the baby is very nervous, it is best to use a feeding position in which the baby is placed to the side of the mother and is applied to the nearest breast, or horizontally applied to the breast. In these positions, it is convenient to monitor the position of the baby's head. Thus, it turns out to be good to guide the baby to the breast and keep him in this position. It is pressed by the nose and chin into the mother's breast and begins to suck better if the mother holds him tightly.
4. Almost all children have various forms expressions of gastroesophageal reflux. This name is a condition characterized by incomplete formation of the sphincter, which causes insufficient overlap of the entrance to the stomach. As a result, there is a partial return of part of the milk with gastric juice into the esophagus, causing heartburn. The impressions are quite unpleasant, in order to eliminate them, the infant should maintain an upright position of his body.

Reflux may occur during feeding. It can be avoided by keeping the baby upright and taking breaks while feeding. With the growth of the child, his muscles are strengthened and the manifestations of reflux gradually disappear. If there are violations of the baby's feeding regime due to the occurrence of reflux, you should consult a doctor, due to the seriousness of the situation.

1. Perhaps the development of a yeast infection on the mother's nipples - thrush. In this case, the nipples acquire a bright red tint and begin to itch, after the end of the process breastfeeding an unpleasant burning sensation begins in them. In this case, the baby may be slightly more anxious than usual when feeding. If thrush occurs, a woman should consult a doctor for a special course of treatment. Its necessity is explained by the fact that the infection is of fungal origin and can be dangerous for both the mother's body and her child.

Anxiety in a newborn baby can be attributed to a number of reasons. Below are some of them.

1. Almost all newborn babies suffer from flatulence. When a child feeds, a reflex gas release is triggered, which is necessary to eliminate the objects of his vital activity from the body. Their rapid release prevents constipation.

For the passage of breast milk through digestive system It takes very little time for the baby because breast milk is easily digested. When a baby sucks on the breast, you can often hear very characteristic sounds. Despite the fact that gas is observed in almost all children, some tolerate it better than others. The time of day at which feeding takes place also affects the process, and flatulence is most clearly manifested at the end of the day. The baby may not want to let go of the mother's breast, which only increases flatulence. As the baby develops, the problem recedes.

1. At the very beginning of the feeding process, mother's milk has a high sugar content - lactose. This is the so-called "front" milk produced in the first quarter of an hour of breastfeeding. If you continue to feed the baby with the same breast, "hind" milk is produced. It neutralizes lactose by virtue of its enrichment in fats, which results in a decrease in the level of gas formation. Flatulence may increase due to an excess of lactose from a large number incoming front milk.

If the baby has not yet learned to suckle well, he may begin to gag. mother's milk... At the same time, he can throw his chest and start to get nervous and scream. In this case, the mother should, by pressing hard on the breast, express the flow of milk, and then again attach her baby to it. You can express milk before breastfeeding to make sure that it can stop flowing before the baby breastfeeds. The baby should be fed from the armpit position. When the baby grows up a little, he will be able to independently control the milk ejection reflex, being in any position during feeding.