Your Newborn Baby's Third Week: Umbilical cord should have decreased off

This week your baby will be weighing around 8 1/2 pounds and measuring 20 inches .By the end of this week, your baby may lift his/her head temporarily and possibly move it from side to side when he/she's lying on his/her stomach.

Her nervous system and muscle control will mature and her rough movements will become more fluid. Babies should sleep on their back, but they also need to spend time on their stomach every day to strengthen their neck muscles, which help them push up, roll over, sit up, and creep. Your baby is now sleeping 16-18 hours per day. Your baby is ready for more complex shapes as his vision, ability to focus, and concentration improve rapidly. 

The third week your baby's umbilical cord should have decreased off, and it is now time to have his/her first real bath. Begin by washing his/her face then work your way down the body and remember to clean the genital area from front to back, to help prevent infections. Remember to keep wiping the warm water. Your baby's ears will produce earwax, just as your do, as this is a normal body process. Colic is defined as a baby crying non-stop at least three hours a day, three days a week, and for at least three weeks.  Colic is a condition in which a baby has periods of sudden loud crying and obsessiveness that often lasts for hours. About 20% of babies suffer from colic and it usually sets in about 2 weeks after birth until the baby is 3-4 months old. Your baby's senses have been at work.

By the end of the month your baby will most definitely be able to lift and hold his/her head off the floor slightly, for a small period of time during belly time. By this point some babies can lift their heads to about a 45 degree angle, and there is a rare that can even lift their heads to a 90 degree angle. Your baby’s stomach won’t be able to grasp much milk at any one time which is why they will need to feed frequently. Your baby’s feeding and sleep will be closely linked at 3 weeks and it can be incredible to separate them. It is so common for young babies to go to sleep when they are feeding that this is considered normal behavior. 

Beware about Newborn Jaundice


Your Baby's First Year: Week by Week
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