Challenges in the first year after child birth and how to tackle them

It's time when the good news is about to come and everyone is prepared for the big day--be it the dad, mom, grandpa or grandma--people feel elated and wait patiently for the new family member. But that euphoria soon changes into confusion, atleast for the new parents. A host of problems or challenges crop up before them, be it physiological such as jaundice, or dealing with sleepless nights, diaper changes, breastfeeding issues(difficulty in latching /engorgement/lactation issues),temperature control of environment, or dealing with newborn's cold/cough and feeding routines etc. But like any other challenge in life, every difficulty can be overcome with patience.
Breastfeeding issues:  These have a lot to do with incomplete information and haste in trying to feed which further complicates the picture. Breastfeeding is an emotional act, one of deep bonding between the mother and baby. Adequate know-how and time devotion to this act can lead to comfortable breastfeeding and a healthy baby.
Newborn jaundice:  is the jaundice that is usually seen 24 hours after birth and is due to the baby not being able to flush out excess bilirubin from his body (immature liver /kidney functions).This usually disappears in 4-5 days. Best way a mother can help in this  is to continue breastfeeding. But as parents, one must watch closely if the jaundice  worsens .
Sleep issues: Newborn babies do tend to sleep a lot more than us adults .But they cry a lot too. Always try to exclude the reasons why baby is crying. It can be due to hunger , pain/colic ,unfavourable temperature or a wet diaper. No matter how many times a baby wakes you up in night, never feel frustrated. Always remember, your baby is the  result of true love you share as a couple.One can try the "conditioning method" for timing a baby's sleep cycle .Something that I used to do during the first year of my baby was to keep all the lights on and active and create a playful environment in the daytime and by the evening ,I used to dim out the lights .This gradually helped me set the sleep rhythm for my baby .
Temperature: is something babies are very sensitive too .Babies can't shiver like us when exposed to cold temperatures and thus are more prone to loss of heat from the body. Thus it is important to think of your baby first and keep ambient temperature in your rooms to comfortable level for the babies.
Frequent cold and coughs: Babies often have bouts of cough and cold sometimes as many as 10-12 or even more in first year of life .It is due to exposure to various bacteria /viruses present around us. This way the baby's body learns to fight and develop self immunity. Good breastfeeding and mother to baby skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo mother care) can go a long way in helping a child fight off these infections. However in context of associated fever or decreased appetite or vomiting, one should contact a pediatrician immediately.

One should avoid gripe water or honey or external feeds to an infant (baby below 1 year age) because all that the baby needs is breastmilk. A time trusted organization like WHO spends billions on spreading the same message, so think twice before giving anything else to your baby.Never fail to appreciate anything beautiful in life for beauty is God's own handwriting (Ralph W Emerson) .Love the feeling of being a parent and enjoy the parenthood.These are the best memories of your life. Fill them with good colours.