Your 7-Week-Old Baby

Baby Blues or Post-Partum Depression?

Being a new mom is full of emotional ups and downs. You’re exhausted, hormonal and overwhelmed by your new responsibilities. So, it’s totally normal to have a range of feelings swirling around inside you.

Many moms experience the “baby blues”—feeling down in the dumps, crying for no reason and going through mood swings, even though you’re “supposed” to be flooded with joy. This phase usually subsides in a couple weeks or less.

But if you’re experiencing intense sadness, and it’s getting in the way of taking care of yourself and your baby, it could be a sign of postpartum depression. According to the American Pregnancy Association, symptoms of PPD include:

• Fatigue
• Feeling sad, hopeless and/or overwhelmed
• Trouble sleeping and eating
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• No interest in your baby
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby

Another condition to be on the lookout for is postpartum anxiety, which affects an estimated 10 percent of new moms. While even the most laid-back woman probably feels some level of anxiety about navigating motherhood, PPA is when racing thoughts (usually about the health and safety of your baby) consume your mind, become obsessive and cause constant fear and worry that interferes with your daily life. You may feel extra irritable or moody, have trouble falling asleep or experience physical symptoms like dizziness, nausea and hot flashes.

What to do:

• Don’t go it alone. See your doctor (primary care, OB or mental health professional) ASAP to get to the bottom of your condition and get the appropriate treatment, which may include medication and/or therapy.
• Talk to your partner and share what’s going on.
• Don’t be shy about leaning on friends and family for extra help around the house and with the baby, too.

Doctor’s Corner: 8-Week Well Baby

It’s time to head back to the pediatrician (yes, again!) for the two-month well visit.

By now you know the drill—your baby will have their weight and height measured, as well as head circumference to monitor growth. The doctor will do a head-to-toe examination, checking out their heart, lungs, eyes, ears, belly, diaper area, skin, body movement and reflexes.

It’s helpful to write down your questions ahead of the appointment, so you don’t forget to ask in the moment.

And now for the least fun part…the shots. At the end of the visit, your baby likely will get several vaccines. The most common ones at this visit are for pneumococcal, hepatitis B (if it wasn’t given at the one-month appointment), rotavirus (given by mouth), DTaP, Hib and polio.

Following the appointment your kiddo may take an epic nap, be epically cranky, or not be impacted in the slightest.

7-Week-Old Milestone: Baby’s First Smile

One of the best moments of parenthood is seeing your baby flash their very first smile. (It almost makes you forget they weren’t so smiley in the middle of the night!) While you may have already spotted some gas-induced grins, they were probably reflex smiles. Now it’s time for the real deal.

Anywhere from six weeks to three months, your little one will start to smile on purpose. This is a big developmental milestone for budding social skills because it means they’re connecting and interacting with you.

Clear lots of space in your phone—it’s about to fill up with zillions of heart-melting, happy baby pics. 😍

Try This: Tummy Time

“Tummy time” helps your baby develop strong muscles, and paves the way to crawling. And it’s a simple activity you can do anytime you’re hanging out at home.

Place your baby on their tummy, preferably on a soft blanket or mat, 2-3 times a day to start. They may look like a bobblehead doll at first, so be prepared for some face-planting and crying (it’s hard work!).

For extra support, you can prop your little peanut up on a nursing pillow like the Boppy (which is designed for this purpose, too). Try it for a few minutes at a time and work your way up to longer stretches as they build more strength. Place a toy in front of your baby so they’re engaged and start to see tummy time as play time.

Avoid tummy time when your baby is tired, hungry or just had a feeding.

Keepsakes for Baby’s Milestones

You can barely find the time to make a sandwich these days, so crafting an elaborate baby book is probably not at the top of your to-do list. Luckily, there are a lot of simple ways to track special moments and save keepsakes without it feeling like a full-time job. Here’s a round-up of ways to capture those sweet memories.

And if you have a few seconds to spare (yes, really that’s all you need), scribble down a milestone or funny experience in Mom’s One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book. Even if you don’t do it daily, you’ll compile an awesome journal of one-liners over the years to look back on.

If you’re looking to take the impromptu shoebox storage situation up a notch, check out the Baby Edition Keepsake Box from Savor. This fabric box has tons of compartments with acid-free drawers, perfect for protecting your most important objects like locks of hair, hospital bracelets, documents, sonograms, baby shoes and more.