How Long is the Newborn Stage? 4 Stages With Newborn Care

You have completed the 9-month transition period of pregnancy to your newborn baby. However, you need to know the answer to how long is the newborn stage.

Newborns are in the phase of transition by every passing month. Observing the transition from a newborn to an infant is not defined by any specific moment or age. The newborn stage of every baby differs from the others. The moment you hold your baby in your arms just after the delivery process, your baby is in the neonatal period. Respiring in the world ensures a new landmark for newborns in the phase of the neonatal period. It is important that you know about how long is the newborn stage.

You have given birth to the baby and in search of information to properly nurture your baby. What is this neonatal phase? How long is the newborn stage? What can you expect from your baby in this phase? This article will answer all your questions regarding the newborn stage and the major developmental milestones of this period. 

What is the Newborn or Neonatal Period?

The newborn period denotes the adjustment period of your baby in the world beyond the protection of your womb. Interacting with the worldly environment has a great effect on the growth of the baby. Major organs are usually developed inside the mother. Whereas, organs need to grow in the outer environment. During this newborn stage, rapid growth is the prominent characteristic. This newborn is marked by high dependence, requiring a lot of attention, and care.

Before you know the answer to how long is the newborn stage, it is important that you know what it actually is. The newborn stage is highlighted by a fresh experience of sights, sounds, and smells. This period is also challenging for the parents to manage the feeding and sleeping schedule of the newborn.

If you have not yet given birth to your newborn, you can calculate your pregnancy due date using the Pregnancy due date calculator.

How Long is the Newborn Stage?

The newborn stage starts at birth and lasts up to 2 months or 4 to 12 weeks. The newborn stage is independent of the expected due date whether the baby came early, late, or at the right dates. During this stage, most babies sleep a lot and don’t show any interest in staying active. The feeding schedule is highly important to avoid any hunger experience. 

What Happens During the Newborn Stage?

The newborn stage or the early 2 months is highly important due to the rapid growth and development of the baby. These days also set the feeding and sleeping patterns of your baby. The neonatal period is of extreme caution because of increased infection risk and congenital problems. The neonatal stage lasts for about 4 weeks from birth. Whereas, the newborn stage lasts up to 2 months. Every week is specific for developmental changes to be noticed. Knowing how long is the newborn stage can be made easy if you know what happens in this stage. Let us have a separate look at the weekly changes in the neonatal stage.

Neonatal Stage Week 1:

If you give birth at a hospital, there are high chances to stay at the hospital for about a week to be cared for by professionals. The early days are very important to carefully examine your newborn in every aspect to avoid any hidden anomaly. Multiple screening tests are performed to assess the health of your newborn. Here are some screening tests that must be performed in the neonatal period. These are some screening tests that you should know while you learn about how long is the newborn stage.

• Hearing screening must be performed just before you leave the hospital or birthing centers. It assesses the hearing status of your baby and whether your baby can hear the normal decibels of sound or not.
• Blood tests must be performed by taking a few drops of blood from your baby’s heel. Blood values help to check any serious health disease or sign of any infection. Blood tests help to determine the severity of any health problems
• Oxygen screening must be performed by a pulse oximeter to measure the saturation level of oxygen in your baby’s blood. It is a very important screening test to determine any congenital heart disorder or respiratory problem.

The first week of the newborn is all about sleeping and feeding. Newborns can even sleep for about 14 to 17 hours per day. But, you must feed them after every 2 to 4 hours whether they are in sleep or not. Feeding them at the proper time will help them to achieve their optimum body weight. This is important to know besides knowing how long is the newborn stage.

Put your baby on their back to sleep and make sure they sleep on a firm surface without any blankets or pillows. Moreover, when you leave the hospital, you can also let your baby spend a short time on their tummy on a flat surface while staying with them. The tummy time is important to build muscles in their head, neck, and upper body that helps them to crawl.

During the first few hours after the umbilical cord is clamped, your baby starts taking their first breath. Their lungs start working for the first time and fluid drains from their lungs. Their heart works to supply the oxygen-rich blood to the lungs. Their kidneys start filtering the blood. Their digestive system starts working by shedding thick meconium that lines their digestive system when they are in the womb. Your baby’s skin may be thin, peeling, and covered with fine hair. Their skin undergoes changes in the neonatal period. These are all bery relevant information while you also know how long is the newborn stage.

Your baby may lose weight in the early days after birth. Your baby’s doctor is just keeping an eye on your baby’s weight to not fall below 10% of their birth weight. You may also need to visit their doctor during their first week at home to assess the health of the baby. This was about the first week of neonatal period that is important to know how long is the newborn stage.

Neonatal Period Week 2:

Your baby is still in a constant transition cycle of sleeping and feeding every 2 to 3 hours. If your baby’s weight is lost in the first week, your baby’s weight must be back to normal during the 2nd week. It is an exciting milestone for the parents. During the first week, you must make an effort to feed your baby after every 2 to 3 hours. Whereas, you can stop waking after every 2 to 3 hours to feed your baby during the night. 

If you are breastfeeding your baby, it is also a new and difficult experience for you due to the soreness of your nipples. You can also consult with a lactation consultant to sort out any nursing difficulties. If you are feeding formula, you can consult with a pediatrician to discuss any problems.

Moreover, if your baby had a circumcision, it will likely heal this week. If you notice any unusual change during this week like a decrease in wet diapers your newborn is producing, or any other unusual feeding experience, consult your doctor. This was about the second week of the newborn stage that is important to know how long is the newborn stage.

Neonatal Period Week 3:

During the newborn period, there is a surge in body growth. Growth reaches a maximum this week, leading them to cluster feed. It can cause disturbance in feeding and sleeping patterns. You can also notice your newborn to lift their head. In addition, it is also important to continue tummy playtime with your baby. It will strengthen and tone the body’s muscles to help them crawl. Moreover, the stump of your baby’s umbilical cord will fall off this week, if not fallen yet. It is a sign of healing. These information are also important to know how long is the newborn stage.

Neonatal Period Week 4:

During the last week of the newborn stage, your little one will look more expressive and alert than previously. As the days go on, hearing and vision will continue to develop. Till the end of 4th week, you will be able to identify the meaning of your baby’s cries. If it doesn’t happen, don’t worry about it. Toward the end of 1st month, make sure to visit your pediatrician for a check-in. You may likely need to discuss your baby’s vaccination schedule. Their first vaccination for Hepatitis B is usually given at the hospital. Whereas, the next set of vaccinations is given when they are between 6 weeks to 2 months old. These are some important facts to know while knowing how long is the newborn stage.

How Can We Measure the Growth in the Newborn Stage?

The newborn stage depicts higher growth rates. Increased growth rate is measured mainly by the increased body weight. However, in the early days, babies tend to lose weight. But, in the following weeks, newborns start to gain weight rapidly. This increased weight gain indicates that the baby is growing normally.

How to Survive the Newborn Stage?

The first few months with a newborn are quite challenging for the parents to adjust to a totally different routine. Besides knowing how long is the newborn stage, let’s also know how to survive this stage. There are some tips that will help you to cater to the newborn stage of your little one without any hectic experience.

• If your baby’s skin is sensitive or has a nappy rash, try using cloth diapers for newborns to avoid any painful experience.
• Keep their nails trimmed regularly to avoid any scratches by the baby.
• Some parents find swaddling helpful and easy for babies to sleep peacefully. Swaddling helps to protect them from their sudden movements during their sleep.
• Make a list of tasks you want to perform during the day and do them one by one at a time.
• If your baby is fussy or tired, changing their diaper or clothing can help them to relax.
• If your baby is sick or colicky, there may be a need to feed them more frequently than usual.
• Make a list of your necessities or essentials you need for the next weeks or months. It will help you to keep things organized without any frustration.
• Try to enjoy the newborn stage. It will not last long. Find joy in the smaller things. Make memories with your newborn. Enjoy it to the maximum. You will cherish these moments for life.
• With this modern era of technology, you can also go for monitoring apps to help you in the newborn stage. Scheduling the baby’s sleep, feeding times, and diaper changes will help you during the newborn phase.

What Can Be the Possible Problems During the Newborn Stage?

The newborn stage offers quite a challenge to the parents. There are some complications that can appear during this phase.

• Congenital birth defects
• Birth trauma
• Jaundice 
• Weight loss 
• Feeding problems 
• Latch problems 
• Tongue tie or lip tie
• Low blood sugar
• Neurological disturbance 

The first month of the newborn is the riskiest because of increased infection rates. According to the World Health Organization, 2.4 million newborn babies die in the first month of their life in the year 2019. About 75 percent of neonatal deaths occur in the first week of their life. For this reason, well-child visits are important for neonatal health. These are some possible problems that you need to know while learning about how long is the newborn stage.

Takeaway

The newborn stage is quite vague as babies do nothing in this period except eat, sleep, or cry. The newborn stage lasts up to two months. This summarises this whole discussion on how long is the newborn stage. You may notice multiple changes during this period as your baby grows or gains control over their head and neck. Every baby is different from the others and grows at a different pace. Some babies build some habits quite early than others. So, there is no need to compare your baby with others. Your little one goes through an intense growth period. Make sure your baby is properly eating and sleeping. It is a very critical period of your baby’s life.

Besides caring for a newborn, regular appointments with the pediatrician are also important to discuss the major concerns regarding your baby. This concludes the topic on how long is the newborn stage.

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