First 6 Weeks With A Newborn (10 Realistic Ways to Survive)

Introduction

Are you feeling exhausted? We know how overwhelmed you’re feeling trying to cope with the sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, paranoia and new routine.

On top of that, you are still recovering physically, house chores need to be done, and life goes on – all while taking care of a newborn baby and trying to care for yourself.

The first 6 weeks can be a real shock to your system, but remember that the focus is surviving – not being the perfect parent from day 1! Here are 10 ways you can survive the newborn phase.

Why Are The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn So Hard?

There are a few things that will change after having a baby,

Sleep

Many newborn parents become sleep deprived because newborn babies wake every 2-3 hours, which can be very disruptive when you are used to getting a solid 8 hours of sleep every day.

Hormonal Changes

There is a major shift in hormones after you have a baby. Your estrogen and progesterone drop immediately, which often causes “baby blues”.

On the other hand, your prolactin and oxytocin levels rise significantly to facilitate bonding and boost milk supply.

Growth Spurts and Cluster Feeding

Most babies will have 2 growth spurts in the first 6 weeks of life, which means that there will be periods of 3-5 days of constant feeding, shorter naps and increased fussiness.

Cluster feeding catches most moms off guard because it may feel like you don’t have enough milk to keep up with your baby’s appetite.

Getting to Know your Baby

Each baby is unique and getting to know your baby (figuring out what your baby’s cues are, what breast feeding positions they prefer and their natural rhythms) is a process that requires time and patience.

Taking Care of Yourself

Many parents don’t anticipate how exhausted they feel after the first 2 weeks, and even having a shower may feel like too much work.

Just remember, the better you feel about yourself, the easier it will be to get through those first 6 weeks.

Let go of strict schedules, accept now that evenings are for your baby (especially during growth spurts) and rest when your baby sleeps.

It really isn’t about being perfect and looking photo-ready all the time – just make sure you are fed, clean and keep stress levels as low as possible.

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What to Expect In The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn?

It is so important to have realistic expectations about life after having a baby. Everything changes,

Weeks 1-2: Recovery

The first 2 weeks may feel like a blur, with physical discomfort from healing after birth. During this time, you will spend most of your time feeding, changing and holding your baby.

Weeks 3-4: Growth Spurt and Cluster Feeding

Your baby will have their first growth spurt around this time, so you can expect more fussiness, clinginess, cluster feeding and interrupted sleep.

Weeks 5-6: Calm After the Storm

Things will start feeling more predictable as you get into a rhythm with your baby and build more confidence as a parent.

Your baby will start sleeping for longer stretches, be more interactive and by now, you will still feel tired, but you are getting used to waking up so much.

If you are breastfeeding, you will have established a decent supply of milk and feeding your baby feels easier.

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How To Survive The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn

So, we know what happens over the first few weeks with a baby and what to expect, but how do we actually survive the first 6 weeks with a newborn?

Coping well depends on a combination of factors, including sleep, nourishment, self-care, accepting help, stress management and letting go of control.

✔️ Prioritise caretaking and bonding

For the first 6 weeks, all you need to do is care for your baby, sleep and eat – everything else can wait.

During this time, it is essential that your baby gains weight, so wake your baby to feed every 2-3 hours (breastfed) or 3-4 hours (formula-fed).

Change nappies frequently to prevent nappy rashes, get plenty of skin time, keep your baby warm, and make sure the umbilical cord is clean and dry.

✔️ Prioritise Rest

It’s not always possible to sleep when your baby sleeps, but laying down, closing your eyes and breathing deeply for 10 – 15 minutes (quiet wakefulness) can significantly improve your well-being.

9 Benefits of daily short naps:

• Improved memory and focus
• Restores energy
• Lowers heartrate
• Lowers blood pressure
• No nap “hangover”
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Muscle relaxation
• Nervous system regulation
• Reduces emotional reactivity
• Improved metabolism

✔️Breathing Exercises

As the parent of a newborn, you will find that your nervous system gets dysregulated very easily, so breathing exercises will help keep you calm throughout the day.

6 Breathing techniques you can use for stress-relief:

• Belly breathing
• Box breathing
• Pursed-lip breathing
• Alternate nostril breathing
• Pranayama breathing
• Lion’s breath breathing

✔️Build a simple nighttime routine

Routine with your baby not only helps make your time manageable and your days more predictable, but it also improves the quality of your baby’s sleep and instils good sleeping habits early.

With a newborn baby, there is no need to follow a strict schedule, but try to build a routine to make evenings calmer and more enjoyable for everyone.

A simple nighttime routine with a newborn may look like this:

1. Start preparing dinner from around 3 PM
2. Round up your important tasks and chores for the day before 5 PM
3. Have a quick shower
4. Have dinner
5. Bath and massage your baby, and get them ready for bed
6. Make sure that everything is ready for the next feed (blankets, bibs, water, snacks etc.)
7. Dim the lights
8. Feed your baby and have skin time
9. Put your baby in the cot (drowsy but still awake)
10. Turn the lights off, leave the room and keep your baby monitor close by

Last but not least, wind down, switch off and go to bed! Evenings are not the time to catch up on everything, mama! Your health is more important.

Read this article to find out more about How to Build a Routine with Your Newborn

✔️Set realistic expectations

After you have a baby, let go of the need to be superwoman. Your house does not need to look perfect all the time and it’s okay if there are a few dirty dishes in the sink.

The energy you use to clean the house during this time, will surely drain you and make it harder to tend to the needs of your baby.

New parents often get overwhelmed because they still try to carry on with life as usual, but sometimes it’s just not possible or healthy to over-exert yourself so much. 

It can really lower the pressure to clean later if you deep clean your house before baby arrives. Set timers and dedicate

If you have pets in the house, keep them out of bedrooms, off couches and away from your baby until later.

Choose important things and make time for this during the week:

• Do laundry but get help with ironing
• Keep your baby’s spaces clean and stocked up (changing stations, nursing stations, cot etc.)
• Sterilize pacifiers and bottles frequently if you are using them
• Start dinner early, meal prep or get help with cooking
• Clean dishes once a day or pack the dishwasher throughout the day

We highly recommend getting one of the wonderful ladies from Sweep South to help you.

✔️Stay hydrated, eat and listen to your body

For your baby to be okay, you need to be okay, so please listen to your body! It is so easy to forget to take care of ourselves when we are tired, but you need extra food and water to survive the first 6 weeks.

If you are breastfeeding, make sure you are getting in those extra calories and focus on eating regular, nutrient-dense meals throughout the day.

Breastfeeding drains a lot of fluid from your body, so you need to drink plenty of water to keep your milk supply steady.

Read this article to find out more about the 20 Best Foods for Breastfeeding Moms

✔️Get to know your baby’s cues

Instead of following strict schedules and setting a dozen alarms on your phone, follow your baby’s cues and feed on demand.

The most common hunger cues in babies are:

• Rooting (turning head and opening mouth)
• Licking and smacking lips
• Moving hands to the mouth
• Opening the mouth
• Fussing and crying (if other cues are missed)

The most common tiredness cues in babies are:

• Rubbing ears, nose or eyes
• Yawning
• Slow movements
• Unfocused gaze
• Avoiding eye contact
• Fussing and crying (if other cues are missed)

The most common play cues in babies are:

• Increased eye contact
• Object tracking
• Cooing, smiling and gurgling
• Reaching out
• Kicking and waving arms

✔️Ask for help and be willing to accept it

Sometimes, as parents, we feel like we should be able to do everything alone because we know what’s best for our babies.

The truth is, our parents and grandparents raised us and, in most cases, we can learn a lot from them – that includes aunties and housekeepers with children.

Accepting help from people you trust is not a sign of weakness and know that people who care about you only want to help – especially other mothers!

Choose one or two people to help at first, so that you can have some time to yourself. The easiest way to do this is allowing them to visit at home, so that you are still close to your baby.

Having one other person you can trust with your baby really helps in the long run, in case you get sick, or have an emergency of some kind.

✔️Take shifts with your partner

Most couples take turns with night wakings, and it gives each person a chance to get an extra few hours of sleep every night.

Don’t be afraid to set clear, realistic expectations for the help you need and make it easy for you partner to keep track and follow the routine.

If there is unwillingness to take shifts, it might be time for a serious discussion (now) because caring for a newborn is not a job for one person.

Spend time outside

When your body is already under stress, make sure you get at least 20 minutes of sunlight a day because a Vitamin D deficiency can cause autoimmune diseases, brittle bones and depression.

The benefits of spending time in nature include:

• Improved mental health
• Improved sleep quality
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved immune function
• Improved breathing habits
• Relaxation

✔️Make it Convenient for yourself

For the first week or two after having a baby, mom is supposed to be in bed most of the time so that she can recover.

To make things easier for yourself, keep your baby close-by in a bassinet or co-sleeper cot to minimise movement needed to get around the house.

You can also set up multiple nursing and changing stations around the house, and prep meals and snacks beforehand whenever possible.

✔️Be kind to yourself

Most of all, remember to give yourself some credit. You are still recovering from having a baby and it’s a lot to handle, but at least your baby is dressed, fed and loved.

Let go of the need to perform or be perfect. Stop using social media altogether if it feels like too much pressure, this often makes a huge difference for moms who already feel overwhelmed.

Throughout the day, acknowledge how well you are doing and recognize your efforts. Caring for a baby is not easy, but you are so capable!

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Common Challenges Parents Face In The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn

Most parents may struggle with the following:

• Crying
• Sleep deprivation
• Cluster Feeding
• Anxiety
• PPD
• Self-care
• Keeping up with chores
• Asking for help

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Signs You Are Succeeding In The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn

These are signs that you are adjusting well:

• Your baby has 6+ wet diapers a day
• Your baby is gaining weight
• Your baby feeds every 2-4 hours
• Your baby is easy to settle most of the time
• You don’t feel extremely overwhelmed every time your baby cries
• You have established a good supply of milk (if you are breastfeeding)
• Your baby is latching well (if you are breastfeeding)
• You are not severely sleep-deprived and unable to cope with basic tasks
• You are not experiencing untreated PPD (Post-partum Depression)

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What Gets Easier After The First 6 Weeks With A Newborn

The good news is that the first 6 weeks are hard, but it gets easier. After the newborn phase, your baby will sleep for longer, cluster feed less frequently and interact with you more.

Caring for your baby becomes more enjoyable and as they develop a personality, you start bonding.

After 6 weeks, babies begin working towards reaching the bigger milestones, like sitting, eating, crawling and walking.

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When To Seek Help

If you notice any of the following, please seek help either from family, friends or doctors:

For mom:

• Post-partum depression, severe anxiety
• Excessive vaginal pain/bleeding and slow recovery
• Infections, nausea, headaches
• Severe malnutrition and dehydration
• Inability to produce milk or sudden drop in supply
• Feeling extremely overwhelmed with cooking, cleaning and general housekeeping
• Having no support structure in place

For baby:

• Rapid, shallow or strained breathing
• Fevers, lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Not waking for feeds
• Dehydration, not enough wet diapers
• Rashes
• Blueness around lips
• Grunting
• Excessive crying, inconsolable
• Extreme fussiness, seems to be in pain
• Severe diarrhoea
• Not gaining weight

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Conclusion

As parents, we are learning something new every day and constantly improving and growing as people. From day one, it’s not about perfection – it’s about surviving.

It is so important to accept help wherever possible, even just with cooking and cleaning, because many parents underestimate the long-term damage of stress.

The important thing is to manage your stress in healthy ways, ask for help when things feel too overwhelming and reach out to a therapist if you need professional guidance. 

For the next 6 weeks, all you need to do is keep your baby fed, clean and warm, and make sure you are eating and drinking enough water every day!

Take care of your needs and listen to your body. Stress will make you sick, so pick your battles wisely, slow down and remember to breathe.

Good luck, mama! You’ve got this.

Want to know more about Safe Sleep Tips for Sleep-Deprived Parents?

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FAQs