Baby's first medical examination

This may be your first big "trip" outside the home with your baby. Everything is still so new, and you probably have a lot of questions left. This is the perfect time to talk to your child's doctor!

Here's what to expect during your child's first checkup.

You can expect your child's doctor to:

Measure your child's weight, height and head circumference
Examine your child's eyes and check his reflexes as part of a comprehensive medical examination.
Get the hepatitis B vaccine if your child didn't receive it at the hospital.

Questions your baby's doctor may ask you

When does your baby suckle and how often?
What are baby's bowel movements like?
How many wet diapers does the baby have?
How does your child sleep?
What position does the baby sleep in?
Have you noticed any problems with your child's vision or hearing?

Diet questions you may have

How often should my child eat?
How do I know they're getting enough?

Feeding tips

Be sure to breastfeed every 2-3 hours or give about 45 ml of formula every 2-4 hours. At this age, you will have to wake your baby up to feed him if he has slept more than 4 hours.
If your baby looks happy after feeding, he probably has eaten enough.
Another way to know if your baby is eating enough is the number of soiled diapers. By day 4 of life, you should expect 5-6 wet diapers and 4-5 diapers a day.
After you have milk, your baby's stool should be soft and yellowish and may look like it has seeds in it.
If you are having difficulty breastfeeding, ask your pediatrician to refer you to a lactation consultant.

Sleep questions you may have

Can a child sleep on an adult bed or sofa?
How can I prevent sudden infant death syndrome?

Sleep safety tips

To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, always place your baby on their back.
Place your baby in a safe crib, not on a bed, sofa, chair, waterbed or pillow.
Keep soft toys, pillows, and soft bedding away from the crib.
You can swaddle, but do not put loose blankets in the crib with the baby.
Make them sleep in your room, but not in your bed.
If they fall asleep in a stroller, carrier, swing or carrier, try laying them down on a flat surface for the rest of the sleep.
Do not rely on any devices that are claimed to prevent SIDS, such as monitors, wedges, and positioners.

Crying tips

Babies may cry when they are too hot or too cold, have a wet diaper or stomachache, are hungry or tired, or just want to be picked up.
If your baby does not need to be fed or swaddled, cuddle or swaddle, rock or walk with him, make white noise, sing or play soft music.
Offer a pacifier. This can help calm them down and also help prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
Don't worry, now you can't spoil your child!

Try to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby as much as possible during the first few months, as this helps with neurological development.

It's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed during the first few weeks with a baby. Don't be too hard on yourself! It may take several weeks before you feel more comfortable, confident and rested as you are still learning about your child and their needs. Don't be afraid to ask family and friends for help when you need it, or call your pediatrician if you have any questions.