Meeting your newborn baby for the first time is an out of this world experience which you are unlikely to forget, usually accompanied by inexplicably strong feelings of love and affection. When you bring your baby home, you will want to do everything in your power to care and protect him or her. There will be much to learn but there is no strict right or wrong way, you have to find your own way to be the parent you want to be with your own baby.

First few weeks with a newborn baby

During the first few weeks at home with your new baby expect to be feeling the after effects of giving birth with possible ongoing symptoms. Your baby will need round the clock care, typically waking every 2-4 hours throughout the day and night. You will need all your strength to focus on caring for your baby as it will be an endless round of feeding, winding and nappy changes, as well as bathing, cuddles and comforting. To get through those first few weeks it is advisable to get as much rest as possible while your baby is sleeping. Try to ignore the housework, accept any offers of help and don't be afraid to ask close family and friends for help with chores and shopping.

Visitors to see new baby

Family and friends will be eager to visit to meet your new baby but it would be wise to try and restrict visitors to close family or friends only and delay others from visiting at least until after the first few weeks of giving birth as this will give you time to adjust to your new role of being a mum and to be able to further bond with your baby.

Meeting other new mums

As the months pass new mums can typically begin to feel lonely and isolated while their partners are at work and keeping up with their child free friends may be difficult. Our service here at MumsMeetUp helps to combat loneliness by connecting mums locally and across the UK and it is totally free for mums to use. Sign up here to meet other new mums in your area.

TOP TIP: Trust your own maternal instincts, as they will usually be right. If you have any worries at all about your newborn, do not delay seeking reassurance or medical advice from your Health Visitor or GP.

Newborn baby care videos

The following videos by NHS Choices provide facts and advice by Midwives and Health Visitors, as well as tips by mums who reveal their own experiences of being a new mum.

The following is a list of UK organisations that provide free comprehensive information, advice and support to new mums, their partners and families.

Association for Post Natal Illness: The APNI run a helpline for anyone who needs support and advice about postnatal illness. Their helpline is answered by women who have themselves in the past suffered from postnatal illness but are now fully recovered. Their confidential telephone helpline is open from 10am-2pm Mon to Fri. They also offer online, email and postal support.
Go to Association for Post Natal Illness

Family Lives: Family Lives provide information, help and support to new mums and families, with any problem or challenge, however big or small it might seem. They run a 24hr confidential telephone helpline phone and can be contacted about any family issue.
Go to Family Lives

Home-Start: Home-Start is a family support charity with volunteers who help families with babies and young children deal with any challenges they mightface. Their volunteers can visit families in their own homes and provide any necessary free ongoing practical and emotional support.
Go to Home-Start

National Breastfeeding Helpline: Give support, advice and peer support to breastfeeding mothers. Their 24hr confidential breastfeeding telephone helpline is open every day from 9:30am-9:30pm. All the volunteers answering calls are mums who have breastfed, and all have received extensive training in breastfeeding support. They also provide online live chat advice and support.
Go to National Breastfeeding Helpline

PANDAS Foundation UK: The PANDAS Foundation help to support and advise any parent who may be experiencing a perinatal illness, including Prenatal or Antenatal Depression; Postnatal Depression; Pre/Postnatal Anxiety; Postnatal Psychosis; Postnatal PTSD or Birth Trauma; Pre/Postnatal OCD. They also inform and guide family members, carers, friends and employers as to how they can support someone who is suffering from a perinatal illness. They also run a telephone helpline which is open from 9am-8pm every day.
Go to PANDAS Foundation UK

Tommy's: Tommy's provides online information and advice about premature babies. They run a free mobile app for parents of premature babies. Their free telephone helpline is open from 9am-5pm Mon to Fri.
Go to Tommy's

Umbilical Cord Stump

Nappies

Bathing Baby

Newborn Sleep

Calm Crying

New Baby & Toddler

Breastfeeding

Formula Feeding

Breastfeeding Twins

Postnatal Depression