Motherhood is such a beautiful journey with tons and loads of information to consume for the proper upbringing of your child from pregnancy to delivery.
Talking about pregnancy, this is indeed another journey on its own with different information to assimilate including how to breastfeed and take care of newborns.
But do you know that even as the most experienced mother, there are still things you have still known about breastfeeding?
One of them is a second-night syndrome.
What is a second-night syndrome?
According to a theory, this is just a situation in which the exertion and stress of giving birth cause babies to sleep for the first 24 hours of their lives.
By the second night, when they wake up, they realize that life, as they knew it in the womb, is over.
Now, this can get worse especially when the breast is not producing milk for the child to suck and the baby is just too hungry.
But don’t worry, this is just a natural way of adjusting to the new environment by the baby which of course is very different from what they knew and were used to in the womb.
What is the duration of second-night syndrome
The second night syndrome will start on the baby’s second night of life and last during the baby’s first 24 hours of profound slumber.
And this is happening as they recuperate from their birth experience and gradually acclimate to life outside the womb.
Many times beginning on the second night, this adjustment period is marked for some by wailing, sleeplessness, and excessively frequent feedings.
What should you expect on your second night with a newborn?
Although the second-night syndrome is normal behavior among babies, truth be told, this can be so troubling and frustrating if you weren’t prepared for it.
So you must learn about it and prepare your mind for this amazing experience.
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Here are some of the experiences you will have as a new mom from your baby during the second night after birth.
- A need to be breastfed all the time; When this occurs, your baby will want to begin a new feeding either right away or shortly after the previous one has ended. Even when you just fed them ten minutes earlier, they could act as though they are starving. This behavior could last all night or for several hours.
- Sleeping immediately; breastfeeding is another amazing experience because here as soon as you start nursing, the newborn will sleep off while sucking the breast.
- If you put the baby down when they are sleeping sweetly in your arms or on your chest, they will wake up and begin the feeding and fussing cycle all over again.
- You can be feeling overburdened, worn out, unclear, and frustrated because of the stress during childbirth and the effects of some hormones.
Tips for getting through second night syndrome
1. Be prepared for it.
No one is exempt from the second-night syndrome, and many parents are unsure of what is going on or why.
They can be perplexed and worried by the abrupt change in their baby’s disposition. You’ll be better equipped to fulfill both your baby’s and your own needs during the second night if you prepare for it and know what to expect.
2. Create a new womb.
Keep in mind the trip your newborn just completed!
They are accustomed to living in a warm, comfortable, damp, secure environment, and they are suddenly in a vast, icy environment.
This must be terrifying for someone so small!
Wherever you can, try to mimic the sensations of being in the womb for your baby.
To calm your infant, try swaddling him or her, keeping the lights off, and playing white noise.
3. Have a skin-to-skin interaction often
There is never enough time for skin-to-skin interaction!
This not only teaches your baby how to breastfeed, but it also soothes them.
Do a lot of skin-to-skin contacts and cuddle with your child.
Your baby’s refusal to sleep in their court is so normal, and you are not pampering them or instilling negative habits by doing so.
You and your partner can both take naps if you alternate holding the baby.
4. Turn away guests.
For the first several days, you might want to restrict or refuse visits.
Since the first 24 hours are when the baby is the most tired, it is best to get as much sleep and rest as you can to get ready for the second night.
Read also : Is it good for a pregnant woman to drink milo during pregnancy?
5. Enjoy a “soapless” bath
Bathing your infant while you enjoy it?
Skin-to-skin contact will soothe them.
You can still take a bath as long as you avoid using a bubble bath or any soap, even though it’s ideal to leave the vernix, a white chalky substance, on the baby’s skin for at least four weeks.
As they hear your heartbeat, gently massage your damp hands over their heads.
This reassures your infant that you are still there and attending to them.
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6. Keep it familiar
The comforts of home will keep your baby quiet throughout this transition period.
Play music to your unborn child while you are pregnant if you still have time, and then again on the second day after the baby is delivered.
When your baby is born, the music you played to him or her often while you were pregnant will bring back happy memories of life inside the womb, which will be soothing and reassuring.
In conclusion
Babies love attention when outside of the womb and sometimes need to touch something and be touched too.
Always ensure you don’t wrap up your babies all the time, try as much as to let his hands to be free during breastfeeding for touching and to creating bonding .