Development milestones:Your newborn baby....

Week 1

How your baby's growing:
Because he was curled up inside your uterus until recently, your newborn baby will probably look scrunched up for a while, with his arms and legs not fully extended. He may even appear bowlegged.
Don't worry: Your baby will stretch out, little by little, and by the time he reaches 6 months, he'll be fully unfurled! In the meantime, as he adjusts to life outside the warm, safe confines of your womb, he may enjoy being swaddled in light blanket.

Your life: You're a parent!
This week, reality sets in — you have a baby! He's all yours, he's home with you, and he's dependent on you for love, care, and feeding. No doubt you've been reading up on what to do and how to do it. We have plenty of articles and tools to refresh your memory and teach you new tips, but here's our best advice this week: Don't try to master the art of caring for a baby all at once. Take it easy, take it slow. Your newborn is more durable than you might think. He's getting used to you as much as you and your partner are getting used to him. Like all good relationships, this one will take some time.

Week 2

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's eyesight is still pretty fuzzy. Babies are born nearsighted and can see things best when they're about 8 to 15 inches away, so she can see your face clearly only when you're holding her close.
Don't worry if your baby doesn't look you right in the eye from the start: Newborns tend to look at your eyebrows, your hairline, or your moving mouth. As she gets to know you in the first month, she'll become more interested in having eye-to-eye exchanges. Studies show that newborns prefer human faces to all other patterns or colors. (Objects that are bright, moving, high-contrast, or black-and-white are next in line.)

Your life: Breastfeeding discomfort
Two to four days after your baby's birth, your milk "comes in," filling your breasts and causing what's known as engorgement. (Until that happens, your nursing baby is drinking a nourishing pre-milk called colostrum.) This important shift has an unfortunate side effect for some new moms: It can create mild to considerable discomfort. Why? Your body is forcing milk from the glands that create it out to your nipples, and you're also dealing with a postpartum drop in hormone levels and the still-unfamiliar sensation of a newborn's suckling.
Your breasts may feel tender or hard and hot, and they may swell or seem to throb. Don't take this as an indication that breastfeeding isn't for you because it's too painful. Engorgement is a short-lived condition that will diminish as your body adjusts to breastfeeding. Some helpful ways to reduce the pain in the meantime:
•Take a warm shower.
• Apply warm compresses (such as a washcloth soaked in hot water and wrung out) to your breasts before each feeding.
• Express a small bit of milk from each breast before nursing. A full breast can make latching on more difficult, causing your baby to position her mouth in the wrong place. She then has to work harder to get the milk, which translates to tissue pain.
• Wear a supportive nursing bra. Some women prefer to wear one even at night.
• Nurse every two to three hours. Don't avoid feedings because of the pain — the more you nurse, the better your breasts will feel.
• Drink lots of fluids to keep yourself well hydrated and to maintain milk production.
• Alternate breasts.
• Apply a cool compress after you feed. Try a baggie of crushed ice or a sack of frozen vegetables.

Week 3

How your baby's growing:
Your womb was a warm and cozy environment, and it takes time for your baby to adjust to the various sights, sounds, and sensations of life outside your body. You may not be able to detect much of a personality just yet as your baby spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness, and active alertness.
The only way your baby knows to communicate is by crying, but you can communicate with him through your voice and your touch. (He can now recognize your voice and pick it out among others.)
Your baby probably loves to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged, and carried. He may even make an "ah" sound when he hears your voice or sees your face, and he'll be eager to find you in a crowd.

Your life: The baby blues
It seems to make no sense: At a time when you expected to be so happy, you feel down, weepy, moody, or irritable. In fact, there are very good reasons why about half of new moms get the so-called baby blues.
During the first weeks home with a baby, sleep deprivation, recovery from childbirth, the demands of newborn care, lack of experience with babies, and not having enough help can all be highly stressful. The huge hormonal shifts that occur after you give birth can also affect your moods, especially if you have a history of severe PMS. Then factor in modern America's expectations about moms "doing it all" and new moms being "blissed out," and you have the makings of a perfect storm for mild depression.
Knowing that these feelings are normal can help. It's a good idea to confide your feelings to people you love and trust: your partner, your parents, another relative, or a close friend. Connecting with other new parents online or in your community can help you see that you're far from alone.
Carve out time for yourself. Let your partner or a grandparent stay with your baby while you visit a friend, go shopping, or just take a relaxing bath. Even sitting outside or taking a walk with your baby in the fresh air can be beneficial.
Leave work behind. Really! Remember this is maternity leave. Turn off your cell phone and avoid your computer. Use these weeks to nurture your ties with your family.If feelings persist more than a couple of weeks, tell your doctor. You may have postpartum depression (PPD), a more serious condition. The causes of PPD aren't completely understood, but it's not a reflection on whether you're a "good" mom or "coping well." Symptoms of PPD include extreme anxiety, panic attacks, changes in eating habits (overeating or loss of appetite), insomnia, and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

source by:babycentre