Leaving your baby for the first time

Sometimes, it can feel like a major thing, and a bit scary, to leave home without your baby for the first time. Some describe it as a feeling of running away, or as an emptiness both in your arms and in your heart – it might even be the case that you want to go back home straight away.

Emma Fransson

Read time: 2 m

Verified by Emma Fransson

Certified psychologist

Leaving your baby for the first timePhoto: Preggers

Becoming a parent is about creating a connection with a new human being. For many, this is created when the baby is still in utero, whilst for others, it can take longer. When that connection is in place, it usually feels difficult and empty to be without your baby and this is a wonderful thing since it's a reminder of just how important you are to your baby.

Being able to be there for your child, to be a steady presence in her or his life, and to get to know your baby's personality and needs, is an extremely important task. A task you can perform even if you leave your baby with someone else while you take a short walk or pop into the supermarket. If that's what you want to do.

If you choose to leave your baby for just 20 minutes or so, it's important to create favorable conditions for both of you. Make sure that a person you can trust looks after your child, and that the child is full or has access to food. Keep in mind that even though newborns recognize their parents' voices and smell, they can also let themselves be soothed by other adults – especially by grandparents whose experienced hands can put any child to sleep.

Emma Fransson

Verified by Emma Fransson

Certified psychologist

Phone

Hundreds of related articles, podcasts & more waiting for you in the Preggers app.

Download Preggers today.

10k reviews

More from Preggers

Read popular and relevant articles.
Breast milk – this is how it works

Breast milk – this is how it works

Breasts change already in the early stage of the pregnancy, getting ready to nurse the baby that’s on the way.

Breastfeeding the very first time

Breastfeeding the very first time

Straight after birth, the newborn baby tends to be awake and alert for about two hours, which is when the baby breastfeeds for the first time.

Getting the baby to latch on to the breast

Getting the baby to latch on to the breast

It is important that the baby can latch on to the breast properly as this will reduce the risk of sore nipples, uncomfortable breastfeeding, engorgement, insufficient amounts of milk and slow weight gain in the baby.

The first days of breastfeeding

The first days of breastfeeding

The breastfeeding pattern differs from child to child. Some babies sleep almost the entire first day after birth, while others want to feed straight away and often. Although your priority is not on yourself, make sure to sleep when the opportunity presents itself, eat well, and ensure that you get enough fluids.

Bleeding and discharge after giving birth

Bleeding and discharge after giving birth

After giving birth, it’s normal for the mother to bleed, for up to eight weeks. Most of the bleeding is from where the placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus. This happens to all women, whether the birth was vaginal or by cesarean section.

Post-birth contractions

Post-birth contractions

The uterus will shrink back down to its normal size after delivery. The contractions are called postpartum pains, or simply afterpains, and are similar to period pain.