What Was Your Newborn Like?

I had an emergency c-section with my first child. Daughter. She was born 1 week before my due date. I was going into labor already.
She was born at over 8 pounds and very alert and screaming already.
My S. child was a planned c-section.
He was born at over 8 pounds as well, and the c-section was at 2 weeks prior to my due date.
Both my kids, were real alert right after birth, and 21" long. And had good lungs.
And both my kids, were avid breastfeeders already. Just took to the breast with no problem. And knew how. And I had plenty of milk already.

My first was 4 days late, weighed 9-10, vaginal birth, and he was sleepy overall, as most newborns are. He cried when he was born, didn't need as much sleep as other babies but most babies are "sleepy" as newborns.

My S. was 4 days early, weighed 8-11, vaginal birth, and was more sleepy than the first. He needed more laps as a child.

My triplets were taken by c-section 2 months early. They were crying when born as most do. They were sleepy and did sleep a lot, but each one was different and one was more perky than another, one needed more sleep, another less, and so on.

Each baby is different but most babies are sleepy. They sleep, eat and poop! LOL

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

Ya know, my daughter was born after just 6 hours of natural labor 5 days after her due date and she was born alert, awake, screaming, etc. She was awake and had her eyes open for hours after she was born. She slept very little the first day and slept nearly all the way through her first night. That was the last time she was like that. You could not wake that girl up for anything!!! It was such a pain to get her to finish feeding or anything... We tried cold, wet washcloths on her feet to keep her up to eat (my milk wasn't coming in very well), we'd gently blow on her face, nothing. She would have been happy to lose a few pounds and sleep all day - haha. She wanted to sleep and she slept for the better part of her first three weeks of life. She's still a great sleeper. I honestly think babies are just different.

ALL babies are different, even in the same household. My son was a natural delivery, almost 9 lbs, a day past his due date, my daughter was 3.5 weeks early, an emergency C-section, 6 lbs, 6 oz, and they both slept a lot the first couple of weeks and then became alert and a part of the world.

One of my grandsons and my nephew were born at 9 lbs, heads up and alert when awake, but my nephew slept most of the first 3 months of his life and my grandson would stay up all day and crash around 11 at night and sleep until woken up, still does. Most babies aren't alert with their head up when born, they take their time to get acclimated to the outside world. It doesn't have anything to do with being "ready," they're just all different from the get-go ; )

Were both of hers big babies? My daughter was a scheduled c section almost 2 weeks early and she weighed 10.12! She slept 12 hours from DAY ONE in her own crib and I put her down awake. She would also take a 2-3 hour nap daily until she was about 3. Same thing for my son, I went into labor with him just under 2 weeks early and had a c section, he weighed 11 even. He also slept from day one in his own crib and on his own. He took great naps too. Who knows? I'm just happy I had such easy babies! =)

I do not think it has anything to do whether they are on time or a week early,
induced or c-section. I think just personality. However, I do notice that
preemies tend to sleep and then around their due date they open their eyes
and say "hello world." I have four. First one slept 14 hours from 3 weeks.
Then my son came. A month early. Never slept. Don't know how I
survived. Then my S. son came also a month early and was an
absolute doll. Put him down he would look around, go to sleep. Very
content baby. My fourth, was your average baby. Born on her due date.
Not a great sleeper early on but not a screamer. When you have four
in a little over three years, that fourth one just sort of blends in LOL. However I do have it all written down.

No difference at all. My kids always came on the threat of induction. They were all bright eyed and bushy tailed. I have cousins, nieces and nephews that came on their own that are just sticks in the mud. It had nothing to do with how they came in the world but who they were born to.

Looking at the answers and your what happened I wonder if your observation is different with your cousin's child because you are observing? Think about it this way, your child falls asleep, you fall asleep, that is life with a newborn. You may feel/think your child was awake all the time but only because your child was awake all the time you were awake when in fact they slept a lot, as did you, ya know?

that's an interesting point you bring up, it got me thinking. my son was a week late and ended up in a c-section, and he was pretty alert for a newborn. i think he was 'ready'...but my daughter was a scheduled c-section 2 days before her due date and she really didn't wake up much for the first week of her life. she literally slept 23 hours in a day for the first week. i really don't think she was ready to be born yet. she has always been a better sleeper than her older brother--i think a lot of it might also have to do being put down more to sleep. i know with my son, i held him 24/7 and i'm sure it encouraged him to wake up to play more. it took until he was about 20 months to sleep through the night in his OWN bed. from day 1, i put my daughter down and let her be while she slept. i do miss being able to hold her while she sleeps, but i had a 21 month old to take care of also when she was born. didn't really have the option.

interesting discussion!

My first daughter was always tired in the hospital after I had her. She had blood incompatibility jaundice and she wouldn't stay awake long enough to breastfeed. My hast two babies came out eyes wide open suckling like pros, one was 2 weeks late one was induced. All three were naturally born, no c section.

Well my first who was full term natural was very alert from the get go.

The S. was a 26 weeks preemie, so yeah, can't really compare (but he's now 17 and going off to college in Sept).

For the third, I had fractured 3 ribs in my last trimester, coughing, RSV went through the house and put the 2nd kid in PICU. I lost 20 lbs during that time, was very sick, and was full of Loritab, and a morphine block for 2 days prior to delivery. She was just under 6 pounds, term. But she was very sleepy. I had to wake her up for feedings for the first 2 months, but she latched on like a pro.

So they're all so different, you know?

:)

My son was born 2 weeks early and I ended up having a C-section with him. He weighed 8.5 pounds. My daughter was born two weeks early (one week before my scheduled c-section) and weighed in at 9.5 pounds. Both have been good sleepers, but gave up the morning nap by 5 or 6 months. My son gave up daily naps around 3 years and 3 months. My daughter, who will be 3 on April 18, is trying to transition out of her afternoon nap. Both kids are high energy, bright-eyed, smart and curious about everything! I also had all the drugs they allow during labor and it hasn't slowed them down any! LOL So, I think all kids are just different temperaments and learn their way at their own rate.
Sleep is good for growth and development. If I were her I would relish these days of slumber because once they figure out how to move, its all over! LOL!
HTH,
A.

been doing inhome daycare for years now....& most babies sleep for the 1st month or two.

My older son was 1 week overdue & came out ready to fight/play football. He was 8lbs 2oz, 21". Those football shoulders of his made the vaginal delivery TOUGH! He had excellent head control from the beginning, even with a broken collarbone (one side only). By 2 months, he was turtle-necking it....& by 3 months, he could get up on his hands/knees. He was my Holy Terror! Oh, & at 3 months, on his belly...he could hold his head up, prop up with just one hand, & reach for the toy in front of him & work the mechanism to pop up the bear. We were sooooo in trouble with him!

My younger son was born on his due date, & weighed 7lbs 12oz? (just slap me now! I can't remember!). Anyway, he hated being held & was pushing away by 2 weeks or so. He also had excellent head control. His physical benchmarks were a little behind my older son. :)

My sister's kids were all larger than mine, & also had excellent head control....& aced all physical benchmarks. Oh, & all born pretty close to their due dates or within the week beforehand.

Sooooo, one more thought: a lot of this depends on how much independent time the babies have. If you allow them to explore their bed/surroundings..... & not hold them all the time....development tends to speed up. :)

Both of my kids were late - my son by 3 days, my daughter by 10, neither were C-sections. My daughter was induced, since we were so late, while my son came naturally. She was by far the more alert of the two.

My son decided to come at 32 weeks, yes my water broke and due to issues he had I ended up with a c section. Jump ahead to my 7 week old I had a scheduled c section at 39 weeks and 4 days, and she had no sign of wanting to come, he weighed 10 lbs 4.2oz! But she is the most alert baby! She can hold her head up and has been almost from the day she was born.

um , well normal newborns ARE supposed to sleep. My daughter NEVER slept , I'm talking the day she was born she was awake literally all night. She was the most awake baby the nurses had ever seen. She was born 3 days early. She also has ADHD. She was 8lbs 4 oz
My son was induced due to size 9 days early, he got stuck , emergency C section, he came out purple. after his initial stay in the NICU he was alert . Many newborns have a (and I am not trying to insult anyone, but) vacant look about them. He was 9lbs 3 oz

Neither one of mine had that vacant newborn look.

I know what you're talking about. Our first was induced, and even though it was his due date, he didn't seem "here" yet when he was awake, and in general seemed disgruntled by the new state of affairs. He had a very far away look in his eyes for about the first week. I have often told my husband I don't think he was ready to be born yet, even though we had no problems with the delivery (other than being extremely long and unpleasant for me). My S. and third were a whole different story. They both seemed very alert, aware, and interested in everything and everyone (which isn't to say they didn't sleep; they did); they just seemed more present right off the bat.

My first son was as alert as could be, the S. was a sleepy boy and practically slept thru his first month of life.
They are all different.

My kids were like yours, but they were all over due. (9 days, 11 days and 5 days). BUT everyone kept telling me that newborns were supposed to sleep all the time... of course I thought THEY were the nutty ones! :)

Some babies sleep, mine didn't.

well I didn't read your answers but based on your update, I must be right in line with them. All three of mine were induced at 40-41 wks. My first was a refluxy baby, but once we got a little medicine in him he slept great but was up a good bit and very alert. My S. did not have reflux of any kind and was practically in a coma like state the first two months!!LOL The S. that kids eyes would open we were like 'grab the camera!!!!' He was the best sleeper and now at 2 still loves his rest, never a moments trouble with that one so far on sleep, he loves his nap etc. My third who is only 4 months is right in the middle, he had a little reflux but is already past that. He sleeps all night and takes a couple naps a day but is very alert and active when he is up. So I think all kids are different. In fact having the super sleeper S. spoiled us, when my third was crying in the night as a new born we had to really get back in the swing of things bc my S. was such a sleepy head we had forgotten about all the crying! I think all the kiddos in your post sound totally normal :)

Interesting question. My first was a week early, scheduled c-section, as she was breech. Was very alert, wide-eyed from the get go. Never slept much.

My S., I went into labor with 2 weeks early, was in labor for 19 hrs. as I was trying to VBAC, and had to have an emergency c-section as she was in distress. She was a baby that slept ALOT. I even asked her pedatrician as I was worried and she was so different than my first. He said that she was normal, too, just different.

It's funny to me now, that my oldest at 15 is very laid back and not hyper all. My youngest, my sleepy baby, is my active one!

Hmmm, interesting question. I can tell you my experience. My first was induced 10 days early, had to be an emergency c-section, weighed 5 lbs. 10 ounces, but was very alert from day one. She held her head up sitting on my husbands lap in the hospital. I guess they are just all different.