Scared About Your Baby's Arrival? A Guide for the First Few Days

Feeling very stressed or scared about the arrival of your baby is normal. Here is a guide for you to be calm those first few days.

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez.

Written by Gladys González

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Your baby’s arrival can generate anxiety and tension. As the date of delivery approaches, our emotions increase, so we must take precautions in order to stay calm during this wonderful event.

Bringing a little one into the world is a very big deal. We prepare ourselves to receive a new member of the family in a harmonious and peaceful environment.

We must control unpleasant feelings of stress or fear, so that we can take on the thousands of tasks or pending things that must be accomplished prior to birth.

It is natural that a feeling of disorientation and anguish arises when we arrive home for the first time with our baby in our arms, due to inexperience. We may have doubts about basic but fundamental issues such as: feeding, grooming, how we calm their crying, etc. So, do not push yourself because all new moms go through these moments.

Planning Before Birth

When the baby arrives at our home, they become the center of attention. So planning a little in advance is absolutely necessary and facilitates the harmonious development of the family during the first few days (which are often quite complicated while we adapt).

Below is a set of recommendations to take into consideration so that those first few days are not so difficult:

• Family meals: prepare and perhaps freeze some food or have delivery numbers on hand.
• Supplies: Buy in advance everything you need for the baby: diapers, hygiene products, wipes, etc. This will avoid the complicated logistics of buying them once the baby is at home.
• Clothes and utensils: wash and organize everything that will be used by your little one beforehand for the first days.
• Household cleaning: using disposable plates and cups during your family’s meals to make cleaning up easier.
• Insurance policies: reviewing health insurance policies will avoid setbacks or last-minute emergencies.

Guide for the first days after your baby’s arrival

It is good to take into consideration the following aspects once your baby is home:

• Regular visits: constant visits often disturb the peace of your child. Establishing schedules for family and friends to visit is essential.
• Go with the rhythm of the infant: a newborn can be very demanding at night since they should be breastfed. Take advantage of everything that can be done prior to bedtime so that your rest will help you avoid being overwhelmed or sleepy.
• Delegate activities: If for some reason you must run errands, clean your home or any task other than focusing on the baby, that task should be delegated to someone who is willing to collaborate.
• Take care of food: Time is almost always limited. Eating healthy and not skipping meals will be habits that we should not neglect. You must stay strong for your baby’s arrival, and even more so if you are breastfeeding.
• Trust your instincts: identifying what worries babies is usually complicated, since everything manifests through crying. If you suspect why they are crying, follow your instinct. You can almost always guess right.

Baby’s needs in the first few days

1. Place the crib in a place in the house that is easy to maneuver.
2. Babies usually swallow a lot of air during feeding – burping them 5 minutes later will prevent this uncomfortable experience later.
3. Gently disinfect the umbilical cord.
4. Change their diaper every two or three hours.
5. The baby’s clothing should be comfortable and easy to put on, so it bothers them as little as possible.

The first few days are not usually simple. Everyone will have to adapt to the other and this process can be long. If you are feeling exhausted, ask for help from a family member or friend who will undoubtedly be willing to give you a hand.