Prompt 46: The Newborn First 7 Days (At Home)
When to use it
You're home from the hospital with a newborn and you have no idea what a normal day looks like. You want a loose, day-by-day framework.
The Prompt
I'm bringing baby home on [DAY]. I have no idea what to expect in the first 7 days.
My situation:
- Baby: [E.G., "first baby" / "we have a toddler" / "twins" / "NICU graduate"]
- Support: [E.G., "partner home 2 weeks" / "I'm alone" / "family is staying" / "postpartum doula"]
- Feeding: [E.G., "exclusively breastfeeding" / "exclusively formula" / "combo" / "trialing"]
- Sleep setup: [E.G., "bassinet in our room" / "crib in nursery" / "co-sleeper" / "we plan to bedshare"]
- My recovery: [E.G., "feeling OK" / "still bleeding" / "C-section incision hurts" / "3rd degree tear" / "exhausted"]
- My emotional state: [E.G., "high from the birth" / "crying already" / "anxious" / "numb" / "I don't know what I feel"]
Please give me:
1. A loose day-by-day for the first 7 days (so I have a shape, not a clock)
2. The "good day" definition (it doesn't look like you think)
3. Feeding expectations: frequency, duration, what 'enough' looks like
4. Sleep expectations (and the safe sleep rules)
5. Diaper/output expectations (pees, poops, what's normal)
6. The 5 things to call the pediatrician about (red flags)
7. The 'I have a toddler too' addendum
8. The 'I'm losing it' moment plan
Important: I want a real map, not a fantasy.Example output
*"Day 1-2 home: mostly feeding, sleeping (you and baby), bleeding, walking to bathroom. 'Good day' = fed baby, fed you, did one tiny thing (shower, eat). Don't try to 'do' more. Feeding: 8-12x/24 hrs, on demand. Output: 1+ wet diaper per day of life (Day 1=1, Day 2=2, etc.), meconium → green → yellow seedy. Sleep: baby should sleep on flat firm surface, no blankets, no positioners, room-share for 6 months. Call pediatrician: fever >100.4, jaundice spreading, no wet diapers in 8+ hrs, vomiting (not just spit-up), breathing concerns, lethargy. Toddler addendum: 10 min of 1:1 attention > 2 hours of parallel. 'I'm losing it' plan: put baby in safe place (crib), walk away 5 min, breathe, call someone."*
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