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First-Week Checklist

Daily basics

  • Feed the baby on a pattern that matches your feeding plan.
  • Keep track of wet diapers, stool, and any patterns that seem off.
  • Protect sleep shifts for the adults so nobody becomes unsafe from exhaustion.

Recovery basics

  • Keep water, food, and medication within reach.
  • Watch for worsening pain, bleeding, fever, or emotional distress.
  • Ask for help before everything feels impossible.

Keep notes on

  • Appointment times.
  • Questions for the next visit.
  • Anything that seemed unusual but not urgent.

What matters most this week

The first week is a race between ordinary recovery and ordinary fatigue. If feeding, output, and safety are under control, the rest can be messy without being a problem 12.

References

  1. HealthyChildren.org
  2. CDC Infant Health

Educational guidance only, not personalized medical advice.