The Real First Week: What No One Tells You About Bringing Baby Home
- Colleen Mckay
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
They don’t warn you about that moment you’re wheeled out of the hospital—baby in arms, the hallway echoing behind you. Suddenly, it’s just you, your partner, and this tiny human.
No nurses.
No instructions.
Just... go.
It’s the beginning of everything.
Every mom brings her own strengths to that moment. Some soothe like pros. Others organize like generals. Me? I cried in the car and prayed I buckled the car seat right. No matter who you are, that first week home will test you—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Every journey is different. Each of my kids has their own wild birth story. But one thing stays the same: that first week is never easy. The good news? It gets easier.
Let’s talk about a few things no one tells you—starting with that mysterious rash...
1. The Rash That Comes Out of Nowhere
Day three. I spotted tiny red bumps on my baby’s cheeks and immediately panicked. Was it an allergy? A virus? Google was not helpful.
Spoiler: it was just newborn skin doing its weird, totally normal thing.
Most babies get some kind of rash that first week—newborn acne, dry patches, or scary-sounding stuff like erythema toxicum (which is harmless, promise). Their skin is adjusting to the real world, and it shows.
What helped: a quick call to our pediatrician, switching to gentle fabrics, and reminding myself not everything needs a fix. Most rashes clear up on their own.
Bottom line? If your baby looks blotchy, flaky, or bumpy—they’re probably just fine. You’re doing great.
2. Why Is My Newborn So Gassy?
It’s 2 a.m. The baby is screaming. You’ve burped, bounced, walked laps. They’re still screaming.
Gas is sneaky. It can show up even when you’re doing everything “right.” Newborns swallow air constantly while crying, eating, or even breathing. On top of that, tiny tummies are still learning how to work.
Newborn gas relief takes trial and error. What worked for us:
Bicycle legs and tummy massages
Burping during and after feeds
Switching bottles (if using them)
A calm voice telling me, “You’re not doing anything wrong”
We also tried gripe water, prebiotics and gas drops with pediatrician guidance. And sometimes? We just rode it out.
If your baby seems gassy all the time, talk to your pediatrician—but also know it’s incredibly common that first week. You’re not alone.
3. Newborn Feeding Problems No One Warns You About
You picture feeding as this serene, bonding moment. And sometimes, it is.
But the first week? It can also mean cluster feeds, sore nipples, bottles rejected, milk everywhere, and a lot of crying—sometimes from you.
Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding, or just figuring it out, newborn feeding problems in the first week are the norm, not the exception.
Things that helped:
A lactation consultant (game changer)
Holding positions that didn’t make my back cry
Realizing “it’s not supposed to hurt” wasn’t always true at first
I cried over spilled milk—literally—and then fed my baby and kept going. If that’s you too, you’re doing it right.
4. Newborn Reflux: Or Why Your Laundry Will Triple Overnight
You haven’t really entered parenthood until you’ve caught spit-up in your hand like a reflex ninja.
Newborn reflux is super common, especially in the first week. Their digestive system is still maturing, and spit-up happens—sometimes a lot. It’s messy, but usually harmless.
Signs it’s normal:
Baby is gaining weight
They're not fussy after spitting up
The volume looks worse than it is
When to check in with your doc? If baby seems uncomfortable, refuses feeds, or isn’t gaining weight. Ours had silent reflux, and once we figured that out, everything changed.
Tip: keep burp cloths everywhere. Accept the laundry situation. Know it won’t always be this way.
Final Thoughts: You’re Doing Better Than You Think
That first week is intense. It’s beautiful and blurry and full of doubt. But these early challenges? They’re not signs you’re failing. They’re signs you’re learning.
Your baby doesn’t need perfection. They just need you.
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