Survival Guide: Baby’s First Two Weeks

Newborn life is challenging. Often, even the most experienced parents struggle. I created this survival guide to help you have the best first two weeks possible. Let’s dive in.

Take Courses

• Take a breastfeeding class before baby comes.
  • My online course gives you lifetime access, so you can refer to it in the middle of the night if needed. 
• Take a newborn sleep course.
  • I recommend Little Dreamers Newborn Sleep Course. Use “ANNA10” for 10% off.

Breastfeed Like a Champ

• Breastfeed during the “Golden Hour,” which is the first 1-2 hours after baby is born.
• Be prepared to cluster feed (several feedings close together). Cluster feeding usually happens in the late afternoon or evening.
• Get a silicone breast pump.
  • Silicone breast pumps are an excellent resource for collecting let-down milk from the opposite breast you are feeding on or using it to collect milk when hand-expressing.
• Take home everything from the hospital—you can even ask for more.
  • When I left the hospital with my twins, I left with two extra bags of stuff because the nurse brought me extra diaper packages, wipes, nursing pads, binkies, maxi pads, mesh undies, ice packs, etc.
• Call an IBCLC with any breastfeeding questions or concerns. Reach me at hello@prenatalinsights.com or by phone at 801.368.1914.

Set Up Your Home

• Keep baby at your bedside
• Set up a pack n’ play in your main living space
• Get a ton of sleep gowns—my babies lived in these for months.
  • They are so easy to change diapers any time of day or night.
  • They have hand covers so baby can’t scratch their face.
• Set up a breastfeeding/baby station with everything you need for breastfeeding, pumping, burping, and diaper changes. Supplies can include the following:
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Nursing Pads
  • Burp rag
  • Diaper rash cream
  • Clean pajamas
  • Binkey
  • Haakaa (silicone breast pump)
  • Vaseline
  • Boogie sucker
  • Hand sanitizer
• Get swaddles.
  • Muslin—Aden and Anais are my favorite – they are so soft and are actually large enough to swaddle a baby.
  • Knit—Milk Snob are amazing – they are soft, stretchy, and work great to keep baby’s arms tucked in. Copper Pearl swaddles are very similar.
  • Velcro—I loved using Ollie swaddles with my twins,
• Have a diaper changing station in the main living area for the day and in your room/bathroom for nighttime.
• Download the Glow baby app.
  • I used this with my babies, including the twins, to keep track of diaper changes and breastfeeding times,
  • The app can be your brain to keep track of everything baby related for the first two weeks.
  • You can even add your partner to it, and both use it to keep track of everything.

Take Care of Yourself

• Sleep when baby sleeps or ask for extra help to get a couple of naps in.
• Make yourself a postpartum care kit
  • Witch hazel
  • Depends—trust me, these are amazing after having a baby, or Proof Panties.
  • Pads
  • Peri bottle
• Use over-the-counter medicine.
  • Take a stool softener.
  • Stock up on Tylenol and Motrin.
• Get a comfortable nursing bra.
• Purchase nursing pads.
  • Disposable
  • Reusable
• Stock up on nipple care supplies.
  • Nipple cream
  • Gel pads—ask for these at the hospital.

I hope you found this survival guide helpful. Just know, I have complete confidence in your ability to succeed in those first two weeks of having a newborn. As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns through email at anna@prenatalinsights.com or schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation.