Newborn and 2-weeks-old baby

Your new baby is here at last - congratulations! Try to rest and make the most of this time when your baby is so tiny. It's a great opportunity to get to know and marvel at this little being who curls up and nestles into you with such trust.

It takes a little while for your body to recover, so don’t be surprised if you feel extra tired and emotional after the birth. You’ll likely feel some pains in your tummy in the first few days as your uterus contracts. The bloody discharge (‘lochia’) that you have after giving birth can last for up to six weeks. (Note: because your uterus is healing, it's best to use pads and not tampons to deal with the flow).

When you have a moment between breastfeeds and nappy changes, it's a great idea to do a few pelvic floor exercises. (We know, you probably don't feel like doing these straight away, but they really will help you recover from the birth!).

Believe it or not, newborn babies sleep quite a bit – anywhere between 8 and 18 hours a day! However, their sleep patterns are very different to an adult, and at first they tend to nap on and off through both day and night.

If you've just finished decorating a lovely nursery, it might be a tad difficult not to use it straightaway, but in these first weeks, it's safer (and more convenient) for your baby to sleep in the same bedroom as you. Try to keep the temperature in the bedroom between 16-20 degrees – not too warm or too cold.

This blood test isn't much fun for babies, but it can be a real lifesaver. Usually carried out when your baby is around 5 days old, the newborn blood spot test (formerly known as the heel prick test) is a quick and important check for nine rare but serious health conditions.

A small sample of blood is taken from your baby’s heel and sent to a laboratory for testing. While it can be uncomfortable and cause a few tears, the test is very quick and helps pick up conditions early – often before any symptoms appear. This means babies can get the right support and treatment as soon as possible, which can make a big difference to their long-term health.

Your midwife or health visitor will talk you through the process and let you know when and how you’ll receive the results. If anything unusual is found, you’ll be contacted quickly to discuss the next steps.

If you haven't already, it’s a great idea to jot down a few things you'd like to remember about your birth experience. It’s something you think you will always remember, but actually, it’s surprising how quickly you forget if you don’t write it down. Your child will love reading it one day!

There are lots of good reasons to give breastfeeding a go. First, breastmilk gives babies nutrition that’s exactly right, plus valuable antibodies and other protective factors. It contains all the important nutrients your baby needs for healthy development: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Omega 3 & 6 LCPs and prebiotic compounds are special ingredients also found in breastmilk; LCPs are important for your baby’s development, and prebiotics play an important role in maintaining a healthy digestion.

Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it isn’t always easy to begin with. Give yourself and your baby time to figure it out, and don't be afraid to ask for help with those first feeds. Don’t worry if the baby doesn't seem very interested or takes only a few sucks at first. In these first few days, your breasts produce small amounts of a concentrated 'pre-milk' called colostrum, and the baby needs only very tiny amounts of this rich, nourishing food. When your milk ‘comes in’ at around 2-3 days after the birth, your baby's appetite will begin to increase as well.

Babies can lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight at first, but they soon start to regain it, getting back to their birth weight by about 10 days old.

Whether you're exclusively bottle feeding, expressing breast milk, or combining bottle feeds with breastfeeding, finding what works for you and your baby is what matters most. Here are a few bottle-feeding tips that might help along the way:

Feeding can look different for every family – it’s all about doing what works best for you and your baby.