Constantly worried about 1WO

[canoeman]

Hi

I recently celebrated the birth of my baby daughter last week - she’s now 9 days old and amazing! I’m always worrying about her and constantly examining her and getting worried about what I see even though I know nothing about the anatomy of a baby!

She can sometimes have floppy limbs, and sometimes she straightens her legs and becomes very stiff. Other times she just lies there with her arms and legs bent like what I would call a “normal baby”. Obviously googling has done nothing to help me and it has gotten me worried about a whole number of things.

Am I just being an anxious first time parent that’s over analysing things? Can somebody reassure me.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I think it’s normal to be a whole mixture of wonder, awe, anxiety, worry and fear when you come home with a new baby. Especially if it’s your first and if you’ve not been around new babies previously. I remember holding mine like a rattlesnake and being scared of every little sound and movement. Don’t be afraid to ask your midwife or HV about your fears. It’s understandable to not know what’s usual and to want reassurance. The weird jerky limbs, grunting noises and other newborn behaviours can be very alarming. You’ll get used to what’s normal for your little one in time but meanwhile don’t be scared to ask on here or friends and relatives who have experience of small babies as well as HCPs for advice.

All of those things sounds very normal, don’t worry!

It’s really common to experience a lot of anxiety at first - you’re on a hormonal rollercoaster and you’re getting used to this intense new role with a baby who feels so fragile. It should settle within a few weeks. Just keep an eye on it though - if you’re still feeling this way in a couple of months it might be a bit of post partum anxiety. If so, don’t suffer in silence - your GP can help.

She sounds perfectly normal to me. Newborns are a constant source of entertainment with their various movements, and don't even get me started on the noises they make.

Everything you're feeling is very normal but try and keep away from Google. I noticed all the things you said about your baby in mine, googled it endlessly and came up with lots of terrifying things. I ended up with postnatal anxiety that was hard to shift. Your baby is just moving their body normally, the floppy and stiffness is just different baby reflexes coupled with voluntary movement (eg straining to pass wind or feeling frustrated). Don't worry at all