3 Months-Week 3
Your baby
Your baby is becoming more social these days, she will smile more often and laugh, she now enjoys playing games with you. In these games you and your baby will take turns doing something that delights the other. Your baby learns that her actions can cause a reaction in her surroundings. As your baby gains better muscle control, she is able to really explore her world around her. When baby is sleeping, make sure she is lying on her back. If she hasn’t rolled over she may start to during these months. It is a good idea to always make sure you leave your baby in a safe place like a crib or on the floor. Never leave your baby in high lying places e.g. table or bed not even for a second!
She loves looking at her feet and can now look back and forth at two different things. Depth perception is developing in your baby. She can begin to differentiate between objects that are closed to her and objects that are far away.
Your baby puts all kinds of things into her mouth. It’s another way of exploring toys. Since your baby loves to put everything into her mouth out of curiosity, keep small objects that she could swallow and choke on away from her reach.
Exercising and going back to work
It’s the moment of truth. The bliss (or boredom) of maternity leave is over and it’s time to return to work. Returning to work after having a baby is often when you need childcare for the first time. This 1st separation can be painful and filled with doubts and difficult decisions about your career and your baby’s needs.
Yes the thought of leaving your new precious baby at home while you go back to work scares you, because you are not sure if you can trust somebody else with your baby. Some parents are lucky as they actually have a choice to return to work or not to but for so many moms that choice is only in a dream. Now would be a good time to start looking for good childcare, one you trust and feel comfortable leaving your baby with. Listen to your instincts when choosing childcare.
You’ve been very anxious to shed those extra kilos and ditch the maternity jeans, now you can do it without being concerned. But be sure not to go overboard, a simple walk around the park will do wonders for your mental and physical health, as well as drinking lots of fluid will help your body and skin.
Will exercise affect my ability to breastfeed?
No, it won't. Even vigorous exercise doesn't significantly affect the amount or composition of your breast milk. But you'll want to avoid exercises that make your breasts sore or tender. Wear a supportive sports bra while working out, and try to nurse your baby before you exercise so your breasts won’t feel uncomfortably full.
Concerns
Now you are more comfortable with one another but there are things that will concern you some way.
Some babies develop Thrush
What it looks Like: Thrush causes a severe red rash. It looks raw, and seems almost hopeless to heal with ordinary remedies such as the ones usually prescribed. This is not a normal diaper rash, which is a scattered sprinkling of tiny red spots. This more upsetting rash has larger, new, red blotches with distinct, raised borders. This sore-looking rash does not appear to bother the baby as much as it does the parent. A very common infection, caused by a fungus, this rash is more likely to occur after a baby has taken antibiotics. The antibiotics kill the bacteria that normally live in the mouth and digestive system, making room for the fungus to move in.
Often this kind of infection begins in a baby's mouth (especially in the first 6 months), where it looks like a white, filmy covering and can cause enough soreness to interfere with feedings. Then the infection sometimes travels all the way through the digestive system to cause a rash around the baby's buttocks. A breastfeeding mother's nipples may also get infected-ouch!
What to Do: Thrush won't just go away. Ask your doctor for a fungicidal ointment. With such an ointment, this kind of rash should disappear and heal over several days. Even if it returns, you'll be confident about how to treat it. If it doesn't improve, be sure to tell your child's pediatrician, as sometimes another kind of ointment is needed. Drops for the infant's mouth and ointment for the baby's bottom and for nursing mother's breast may be necessary to attack the infection-all at once.
Be sure to sterilise bottle nipples and pacifiers as these may harbour the fungus that causes this infection. If your child is on antibiotics, find out from your pediatrician if he is ready for yogurts that contain naturally occurring bacteria. These may help get normal bacteria growing in the child's digestive system, making it harder for the fungus to thrive there.
