All along the nine months of your pregnancy, you’ve been waiting in baited anticipation to hold your baby in your arms. So, after you’ve delivered your baby when the nurse brings your mewling little one and asks you to hold your little one in your arms, you’re filled with several emotions. Tears roll down your eyes in happiness to see your little one right in front of you. Your hands shake as you slowly proceed towards holding your baby in your arms. The reason being, like any other new mom or new parent, you feel nervous wondering about holding your baby correctly.
Here are a few safe ways to hold your baby in your arms.
Step 1: Keep Your Hands Clean Before You Hold Your Baby
Your mewling new-born’s immune system is still not fully developed and his or her chance of getting infected or getting attacked with germs and falling sick is quite natural for your baby. Therefore, washing your hands with soap and water is highly recommended by experts before taking your baby in your arms.
Step 2: Being Comfortable While Holding Your Baby is Very Important
Getting comfortable with holding your newborn may take about five minutes. You might feel really nervous in the beginning. Give it some time! After all, it’s not just about getting physically comfortable with holding your baby, it’s also about feeling confident.
Step 3: Carefully Provide Support
Yes! Your delicate little one’s head is the heavy part of his or her body at the time of birth. Moreover, your newborn might not have control upon your head and muscle. Also, focus on the soft fontanelles on the top of his or her head, and try to support your little one’s head and neck with one of your hands.
Step 4: Choose the Position You’re Comfortable in
Well! Since holding your baby starts from picking up your baby, when you pick up your baby, keep your one hand below his or her head and put your other hand below his or her bottom. Then bring your baby to your chest level. Now for the positions that you choose to hold your baby, you need try different positions and see which one suits you best.
Cradle Hold
This is an easy one. Hold your baby by keeping him or her horizontal to your chest level.
Belly Hold
Your cuddly little one’s surely going to enjoy this position. So, make your baby lie down on your stomach and control him or her with your forearms. Make sure your little one has his or her head over the elbow.
Shoulder Hold
A natural one. Lift your little one up to your shoulder level and let him or her rest the head on your shoulder. Keep your support with one of your hands.
You can also lap hold, chair hold, or hold him or her face-to-face. Some of these positions might help you while you’re breastfeeding and burping your baby. With practice, you’ll slowly improve yourself.
