F is for All the fabulous Firsts… and Not so fabulous Ones

Your baby’s every first, every milestone is precious to you.

The first time your baby smiles at you looking into your eyes…

The first time he rolls over on his own…

The first time he sits independently without any support…

Your baby’s first steps…

All these firsts are moments to cherish. You never want to forget it, and you capture those in photos and albums.

But there are some firsts in this first year of motherhood that are not that great or pleasant. They are hard for you and your baby both. So in this post, I am going to tell you about those unpleasant firsts and how to survive them.

Here are a few not so fabulous firsts of your Baby:

The very first Vaccination

You might be thinking, what’s the big deal about vaccinations? Babies get vaccinated all the time.

I agree, but when you take your baby for vaccination for the first time and see the doctor prepare the needle, you get scared and nervous. I know I did. How many of you closed your eyes or looked at the other side during that injection? At least I did for the first time. Being a NICU mother; I had already seen my baby attached to drips and monitors for days, so it was extra hard for me.

Once the vaccination is done, it’s not really over. Babies usually get a mild fever, discomfort, and swelling in the injected area after vaccinations. Maybe not always, but most of the time it’s the case.

Tips to Survive

• Cuddling and holding your baby close comforts him.
• Nursing/feeding helps reduce pain.
• Apply an ointment/ cream recommended by a doctor to reduce swelling in the injected area.
• Mild fever and fussiness are normal after vaccinations, but if the symptoms worsen, consult your doctor.

The first time Your Baby Falls Sick

The first time my baby fell sick, he was a month old. It was a normal seasonal cold, but a mommy’s mind worries too much, and even then I felt guilty. I thought maybe I didn’t cover his head and ears properly, or I didn’t put a thicker blanket on him and that’s why he caught a cold, etc. Yes, mommy guilt can make you think anything.

Babies get cold around 8-10 times in the first 2 years of their life. It’s normal. A baby’s immunity is fragile at the beginning of his life, and it builds slowly. So it’s normal for babies to fall sick a few times in the first year.

Tips to Survive

• Don’t panic, consult your pediatrician.
• Don’t give any medicine without consulting a doctor.
• Breastfeeding helps your baby soothe and recover.
• Don’t blame yourself, this is the first of many such colds.
• Understand that your baby’s immunity is building; minor sicknesses are part of it.

The first time your Baby Falls from the Bed/Sofa/Couch or Anywhere else

If you are a would-be mother who is thinking, I won’t let it happen, then trust me, it will happen. You can’t stop it no matter what.

When my baby fell off the bed for the first time, he was around 6 months old. He rolled over the pillow I had put beside him, and fell off the bed. I was in the other room at that time, and when I heard the sound of a thud and his crying, I almost stopped breathing. I ran to him and took him in my arms, and we both cried. The guilt I felt for leaving him alone, for not putting a bigger pillow beside him was enormous.

After the first aid, I kept holding him for a long time and he fell asleep. There was minor swelling and my baby was fine after some time. Still, I called his pediatrician for the peace of my mind. That whole day I felt guilty for failing my baby.

Now that I remember it, it feels silly for me to react like that. Babies and toddlers fall a lot, and it’s just part of growing up. But the first time can be hard for any Mom.

Tips to Survive

• You can’t really stop the guilt, but let it go after some time for your baby and your well-being.
• Apply ice or a cold pack helps with reducing the swelling.
  Consulting your pediatrician on call also helps, but if the injury seems serious, visit the doctor a.s.a.p.
• Ideally, family members should help and support you in such conditions. But if they are blaming you and feeding your guilt, shut them out of your mind. It’s not easy to do, but do it for your baby’s sake. He needs you most right now.

Your Baby’s First Teeth

Teething is a phase in a baby’s development that causes symptoms like swelling in gums, drooling, fussiness, etc. But for some babies, it’s harder than the others, and that means it’s harder for their mothers too. Some babies have to suffer through diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, fever, and cold. It’s a milestone that is hard to survive for a Mom, seeing your baby in pain.

Tips to Survive

• A cold pacifier, teether, and a clean wet washcloth help to soothe the pain.
• If you are breastfeeding, dip your fingers in cool water, and massage your baby’s gums before feedings. It can reduce the painful biting incidence for you.
• Consult a doctor for symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
• Hang in there Mommy; it’s a phase that will pass.

I hope this post will help you with these not so fabulous firsts of the first year of motherhood.

That’s all for today.

Happy firsts to you all!

Note: This post is written as part of the #BlogchatterA2Z Challenge for letter F.