The first week of your baby’s life is undoubtedly a memorable one for you. This will be your first time coming home holding the new one in your arms after the long wait of 9 months. Floods of wishes and gifts from relatives and friends will make you feel like a queen. At the same time, you will have to look for your new one’s needs all the time. But there are a few things you cannot miss amidst these bundles of duties and wishes. One of these is the first-week baby’s checkup.
The first-week baby’s checkup is vital as during this checkup you can get all your initial questions answered and all your doubts cleared. This is also going to be the first big trip for your baby outside the home after coming from the hospital. No matter whether you are a first-time mother or a mother of two, this visit is important as each baby is different and different queries can occur in your mind while taking care of them. Here is what you can expect during the first-week baby checkup.
In This Article
- What Can You Expect From a Baby’s First-Week Physical Checkup?
- Developmental Milestones Expected From a One Week Old Baby
- Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in the First Week Checkup
- List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What Can You Expect From a Baby’s First-Week Physical Checkup?
During the first baby checkup, bring all the papers of your baby along with you. The papers containing your baby’s height, weight, blood group, etc. should be with you. Note that newborns lose weight after birth so during the first baby checkup your baby may weigh less than its birth weight. It is completely normal as they lose the extra fluid after birth.
The doctor will do a complete physical checkup of your baby that will include
- Taking measurements of the height and weight
- Checking the healing of the umbilical cord
- Checking the signs of jaundice by examining the eye and skin of the baby
- Doing circumcision or removing the skin covering the penis if any problem occurs due to this. This is quite common a problem in male babies.
Besides examining your baby thoroughly, the doctor can ask you a few questions. These questions can include
- What position does the baby sleep in?
- How is the bowel movement of the baby?
- How many wet diapers is the baby producing?
- How often you are feeding the baby?
- Is anything unnatural you notice in your baby?
[Read : Baby Weight Loss After Birth: A Complete Guide]
Developmental Milestones Expected From a One Week Old Baby
The developmental milestones of your baby in the first week are;
- Lifting head a little bit when on the tummy
- Focusing on objects close to the eyes (within 8 to 12 inches)
- Looking for the nipple of the breast or bottle when hungry
- Moving hands and legs in both directions
These are the primary developmental milestones you may need to observe during the first week of your baby after birth. But you must remember that each baby is different and so is the pace of their development. So, don’t worry if some of these milestones are not visible in your baby in the first week as your baby will achieve them in the following 1 to 2 weeks.
Some newborn reflexes that will develop in your baby in the first week after birth are;
- Rooting reflex (opening the mouth to grab the nipple whenever the upper lip is stimulated)
- Sucking reflex (sucking the nipple when you put it in the mouth of the baby)
- Grasp reflex (baby closing the fingers to form a grasp whenever you stroke the palm)
- Tonic neck reflex (moving the head in left and right direction)
- Stepping reflex (trying to take steps when you hold the baby upright)
[Read : Sucking Reflex in Babies]
Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in the First Week Checkup
Generally, the first-week checkup of the baby will be injection free unless hepatitis B and the BCG vaccine, which is given just after birth, is due in the case of your baby.
List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Tons of questions may appear in your head during this time especially if you are a first-time mother. It is better to note down so that you can ask them during the first baby checkup.
Some of the vital questions you can ask the doctor during the first baby checkup are;
- How many times a day should I breastfeed?
- How will I know if my baby is satisfied after feeding?
- Are cradles safe for my baby or should I put my baby beside me at night?
- How to prevent SIDS?
At the end of the first-week baby checkup, make sure to get an appointment from the doctor about the first month baby checkup.
With these pointers in mind, your baby’s first week checkup should be a breeze. Remember to take your spouse or a family member for the first check-up. Moral support is quite important for you too at this stage. Do not forget to carry your baby’s diaper bag and remember that you may need to feed your baby too while waiting for your appointment with the doctor. So be prepared accordingly.
Read Also: Baby’s 1 Month Checkup – What Can We Expect
