 Congratulations! You're a parent!
I'm sure you have anticipated holding your baby for several months and now you can't let go. Whether you are a first timer or a veteran parent, life with your newborn will be an adjustment. You may have a thousand questions about infant care, feeding, what's normal and what's not and overall development. You can ask your pediatrician, doula and lactation consultant any specific questions, but for now, let's start with the basics. So what should you expect during the newborn phase? Here are 10 things to know about your newborn: 1. Newborns Sleep A Lot. Newborns typically sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day, but they wake up frequently to feed—often every two to three hours. Establishing a sleep routine will take time, so patience is key. 2. Feeding Is Frequent and Unpredictable. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, newborns have small stomachs and need to eat frequently. In the first few weeks, expect to feed them 8-12 times a day. Their feeding patterns may seem erratic, but this is completely normal. 3. Crying Is Communication. Crying is how newborns express their needs—whether they are hungry, tired, uncomfortable, or need a diaper change. Over time, you’ll start recognizing different cries and responding more confidently. 4. Skin-to-Skin Contact Is Beneficial. Holding your newborn close has many advantages, from regulating their body temperature and heart rate to strengthening the parent-child bond. Skin-to-skin contact is especially important in the first few weeks. 5. Their Poop Changes Often. A newborn’s first bowel movements (meconium) are dark and sticky. As they start feeding, their stool color and consistency will change. Frequent diaper changes and monitoring for any unusual changes will help ensure they stay comfortable and healthy. 6. Newborns Have Reflexes That May Surprise You. Babies are born with several natural reflexes, like the Moro (startle) reflex, rooting reflex (turning towards touch when hungry), and grasp reflex (holding onto your finger). These reflexes are signs of healthy neurological development. 7. Their Vision Is Blurry but Developing. Newborns can only see about 8-12 inches away, which is the perfect distance for looking at their parents’ faces. High-contrast patterns and gentle movement help stimulate their visual development. 8. They Need Gentle, Supportive Handling. Newborns have weak neck muscles, so always support their head and neck when picking them up or laying them down. Gentle handling helps keep them safe and comfortable. 9. They May Have Peeling Skin and Baby Acne. Many newborns experience peeling skin, baby acne, or other minor skin conditions as they adjust to life outside the womb. Most of these conditions resolve on their own without intervention. 10. Every Baby Develops at Their Own Pace. While there are general milestones for newborns, each baby is unique and develops in their own time. Avoid unnecessary comparisons and focus on supporting your baby’s individual needs. Understanding these aspects of newborn care can help new and expecting parents feel more prepared and confident in their journey. While the first few weeks can be challenging, they are also filled with incredible moments of bonding and joy. Take things one step at a time, and don’t hesitate to seek support when needed.
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 Becoming a parent is one of life’s most profound and transformative experiences. The first six weeks after birth, or the newborn phase, are a whirlwind of emotions, challenges, and precious firsts. It’s a time when you’re learning how to care for your baby, healing from childbirth, and adjusting to a completely new rhythm of life.
This blog outlines what you can expect for both postpartum recovery and newborn care, so you feel a little more prepared for the road ahead. Newborn Care: What to Expect 1. Feeding Patterns
2. Diaper Changes
3. Sleep Patterns
4. Umbilical Cord Care
5. Bathing
6. Doctor Visits & Screenings
Postpartum Recovery: What You Might Experience Your body and mind are healing from pregnancy and birth. Whether you had a vaginal delivery or C-section, recovery takes time—and rest, support, and patience are essential. 1. Physical Healing
2. Breast Changes
3. Hormonal Shifts & Mood Changes
4. Sleep Deprivation
5. Body Image & Identity
Tips for Surviving the First Six Weeks
The first six weeks are tough, but they’re also temporary. Every day, you and your baby are learning and growing together. Some moments will feel overwhelming, others will be filled with awe and love you’ve never known before. Be gentle with yourself. You are doing something extraordinary.  One of my past birth clients enjoying the Golden Hour with her son When we think about the moment a baby enters the world, it’s easy to focus on the birth itself. But there’s a critical period immediately afterward that has profound benefits for both the newborn and the birthing parent: The Golden Hour. What is the Golden Hour?
The "Golden Hour" refers to the first 60 minutes after birth, though many experts advocate for extended uninterrupted bonding during the first two hours. During this time, the newborn is placed skin-to-skin on the birthing parent’s chest without unnecessary interruptions. This sacred window is a time of powerful physical, emotional, and biological connection that lays the foundation for bonding, breastfeeding, and long-term health. The Benefits of the Golden Hour 1. Promotes bonding and emotional connection Skin-to-skin contact in the first hour helps trigger the release of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which strengthens the bond between parent and baby and reduces stress and anxiety for both. 2. Supports breastfeeding initiation Babies are born with instincts to breastfeed. During the Golden Hour, many newborns will crawl to the breast and latch on their own—this is known as the "breast crawl." Early breastfeeding initiation is linked to improved long-term breastfeeding success and maternal milk supply. 3. Regulates baby’s vital signs Being held skin-to-skin helps the baby maintain stable body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It also supports healthy blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of hypothermia. 4. Encourages healthy gut and immune function When breastfeeding is initiated during the Golden Hour, babies receive colostrum—the nutrient- and antibody-rich first milk—which helps populate the newborn's gut with beneficial bacteria and supports immune development. 5. Reduces crying and improves sleep Babies held skin-to-skin tend to cry less and sleep more peacefully. They are more calm and alert, which supports early learning and attachment. How Hospitals and Providers Can Support the Golden Hour To protect this vital period, hospitals and care providers can: 1. Prioritize uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact- Ensure that the baby is placed skin-to-skin on the birthing parent's chest immediately after birth, ideally before any routine procedures like weighing or bathing (unless there is a medical emergency). Encourage uninterrupted contact for at least the first hour. 2. Delay non-urgent interventions- Non-essential tasks such as newborn exams, vitamin K shots, and footprints can usually wait. Allow these to be done while the baby remains skin-to-skin or after the Golden Hour is complete. 3. Support breastfeeding initiation- Provide lactation support during this time, if needed, but avoid interfering with the natural process of the baby finding and latching onto the breast. 4. Educate families prenatally- Hospitals can offer prenatal classes or materials explaining the Golden Hour and encouraging families to include it in their birth plans. 5. Respect parental wishes- Encourage open communication and ask families if they have preferences around the Golden Hour. Include it as part of standard birth protocols unless medically contraindicated. 6. Train staff- All members of the care team—OBs, midwives, nurses, and pediatricians—should understand the importance of this hour and collaborate to protect it. The Golden Hour isn’t just a feel-good practice, it’s a science-backed, deeply human approach to beginning life outside the womb. With just a bit of planning and support, hospitals and care teams can make this moment as peaceful, bonding, and beneficial as possible. If you're preparing for birth, talk to your provider about your wishes for the Golden Hour, and consider adding it to your birth plan. It’s a small window of time with lifelong impact.  Parenting is hard. And confusing. And exhausting. Trust me, I get it. Much of parenting is trial & error and gut instinct, am I right? The honest truth is that only you know what's best for your children and family. But where do you go when you need answers?
The modern world has resources and information literally at your fingertips. But a lot of what is floating around out there is opinion and not evidence-based information from experts. And no offense to Google, but that is the last place you need to go when you are looking for direct and factual data. Please save yourself some time and uncertainty. Instead, here are some highly-recommended and equally popular resources that can be beneficial to you on your parenting journey. Websites
Apps
Podcasts
When You Need Professional Input
Again, nothing beats your gut instinct. But if you need a starting point for specific topics related to pregnancy, birth and parenting, some of these online resources will surely be at the top of your go-to list. Have you tried any of the resources listed above? Have any to add to the list? Leave a comment below!  This week's guest blogger is Saidah Pearson, RN and IBCLC. She is the owner of Four Sisters Hands, a lactation support practice in the Triangle area. Learn more about Saidah's business and her much needed work with women and moms in the interview below. 1. Tell me about yourself. I am a St. Louis native and have been in NC for five years. I am a wife and mom to four sweet little ladies! I come from a large family and am the only girl out of four kids. I am a major introvert but my children and husband force me to be an extrovert because they all have never met a stranger. I enjoy talking about all things mommy, babies, and boobs! Oh and I will forever be a reality tv girl. I can’t help myself! 2. How/why did you become an RN and IBCLC? I have wanted to be a NICU nurse since I was 9 years old after seeing a family friend have a baby prematurely. After graduating from undergrad with a degree in Biology I went back to nursing school. I originally went to school to become a Biomedical Engineer and wanted to pursue medical research. I like to say that I took the long walk home and it gave me a better perspective when becoming a nurse. I have been a nurse for five years and spent three of those years bedside in two different Level IV NICUs in the triangle. I always knew that my end goal was to be a lactation consultant and serve medically complex families. I attended the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill to get my lactation training. I one day hope to go back to the NICU as an LC but for now I am enjoying serving the community outside of the hospital. 3. What is the mission or main focus of Four Sisters' Hands? The mission of Four Sisters’ Hands is to truly meet families where they are and provide individualized support to help them meet their lactation goals. I have a somewhat unique approach that is rooted in focusing on the family’s goals while also presenting evidence based facts that allows them to make informed decisions. The major pillar of my work is to increase visibility and support for Black and brown families. When I was nursing my first child I did not have any physical support that looked like me or had a cultural understanding of where I was. Representation is everything and I work very hard to give support to all families but work extra hard to give support to families that look like mine. 4. What are the best & most challenging parts of being a business owner and health practitioner? The best and worst part of being a business owner is the flexibility. I appreciate that as a stay at home mom I can truly tailor my business to the needs of my family. In the same sense there is no one to do the work but me which can be A LOT! The actual running of a business I could pass on and just do the actual work of supporting families but such is life. The best part of “the work” is helping families reach their goals. Seeing them trust themselves. Teaching the whole family about lactation. Holding space and the gift of being able to support people in their most vulnerable time of life. Oh my most absolute favorite thing is the baby snuggles!! The hardest part of “the work” is the second guessing of myself as new IBCLC. Sometimes not feeling like I know enough or have enough to give. Combating my client’s self doubt that is sometimes imposed by those closest to them. 5. Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years? In five years I would love to be a mentor and teacher. I want to be able to provide education for not only families but for other health providers that are in a position to support families. I also want to pour into other Black future IBCLCs because the path there is lonely and hard sometimes. Working specifically with the HBCUs in NC that are training future IBCLCs. I want to work with more NICU families on a consistent basis and help them reach their goals. I would love to have a breastfeeding clinic that could provide community support and serve as a gathering space. A place where love and care oozes out the walls and flows into the streets! 6. Who do you look up to or admire in the health community? Janiya Williams is who I call my lactation fairy godmother in my head! She gave a presentation to our class in my lactation program and I was in awe! Not only does she positively impact her community through lactation and her support of doulas but she is also a wife and mom. She is highly respected and that doesn’t happen without being at the top of your game. She is a beacon of hope for myself that the vision that I have is not only possible but can far exceed what I think. She is what it means to provide representation to Black IBCLCs and I am grateful to know her. 7. Tell me about your most recent business win. My most recent win was actually recommitting myself to my practice. I have had a hard time deciding how much to give to my practice while also being a stay at home mom. Going from working in the hospital as a nurse with a team to being a one woman show has been such an adjustment for me. After some really hard conversations with myself, my husband, and lots of time spent with God, I realized that this is my life’s work and I am equipped with the things I need to make it happen. Even if I don’t know the how, I will keep one foot in front of the other and things will fall in place. If I am going to bet on anything I want it to be myself! 8. Please share any upcoming events or programs you will be participating in or any special offerings for new clients? I will be hosting my first virtual breastfeeding support group on May 17th! I am really excited because this is something I’ve wanted to do but wasn’t sure if I could. I hope to start in person meetings this fall. I am also planning to roll out prenatal breastfeeding education classes in the fall. One of my passions in lactation is prenatal breastfeeding education so I am looking forward to providing more ways for families to get support before their baby comes!  I’m Saidah RN, IBCLC. A wife and mom of four young girls based in Cary, NC. I provide in-home and virtual lactation support to families from pregnancy to weaning! I have been a nurse for five years and recently left the NICU bedside to support families in the community as an IBCLC. I love all things baby snuggles and lactation. I truly think that individualized lactation support is the key to help you reach your goals. This to me means meeting families exactly where they are, providing the information, and supporting families to make informed decisions. You can learn more about me by visiting my website and follow me on Facebook and Instagram @foursistershands.
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March 2026
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