Your First Month with a Newborn: What to Expect and How to Get Through It

There is no version of this that is easy. But knowing what's coming - practically and emotionally - makes an enormous difference.

The first month with a newborn is unlike anything that came before it. Not just the sleeplessness and the feeding and the constant, overwhelming learning curve - but the particular texture of doing all of this in another country, Greece in this case, where the summer heat comes early, the family dynamics are their own thing, and the healthcare system is still relatively new to you.

There is no version of this that is easy. But knowing what is coming - practically and emotionally - makes an enormous difference. Here is what the first month actually looks like, honestly, and with Greece in mind.

Photo by Taylor Gray - Unsplash

What is happening to your body

The focus in the first weeks is almost entirely on the baby, which means your own recovery often happens in the background. But your body has just done something extraordinary and it needs time and attention.

Lochia (a Greek word!) - postpartum bleeding - is heavier and lasts longer than most people expect. In the first few days it is bright red and heavy; it gradually lightens to pink, then brown, then a pale yellow over the following weeks. If you are soaking more than one pad an hour, passing large clots, or notice an unusual smell, call your care provider.

If you had a vaginal birth, perineal soreness is normal for the first week or two. Cold compresses, a peri bottle, and keeping the area clean will help. If you had a caesarean, your incision will need gentle care - keep it dry, avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby, and watch for signs of infection.

Your hormones will be doing significant things in the first two weeks. Baby blues - feeling tearful, overwhelmed, or emotionally raw - affect around four in five new mothers and usually peak around days three to five before gradually lifting. If the low mood does not improve after two weeks, or feels more intense, please reach out to your care provider. Postnatal depression is common, treatable, and nothing to push through alone.

Feeding your baby

Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, the first few weeks are a significant learning curve for both of you.

If you are breastfeeding, cluster feeding in the evenings is normal and does not mean you do not have enough milk. This is something many new parents might think but if you experience cluster feeding, which is essentially when your baby wants to feed very frequently over a short period, often in the late afternoon or evening. This happens because your baby is stimulating your supply and it also happens when they are going through growth spurts. Engorgement around days three to four (when your milk transitions from colostrum to the more mature milk) can be managed with frequent feeding, gentle massage, and warmth before feeds, cold compresses between feeds.

If you are formula feeding or combination feeding, responsive bottle feeding - which is pacing the feed, following your baby's cues - works in the same way as breastfeeding on demand. In Greece, most major formula brands are widely available in pharmacies and supermarket.

If feeding is causing you pain, worry, or uncertainty - please get support from a breastfeeding councellor or a lacation consultant sooner rather than later. The first two weeks are when most feeding challenges either resolve or become established. A breastfeeding counsellor can help you find a way through that works for your baby and your body.

Your newborn's first appointments in Greece

The Greek healthcare system has a clear schedule of newborn checks and vaccinations in the first weeks. Here is what to expect:

• At birth: BCG vaccination (tuberculosis), Hepatitis B first dose, and a vitamin K injection are standard in most Greek hospitals. Feel free to check with your OB and paediatritian beforehand.

• Before discharge: Metabolic screening (the heel prick test, called PKU screening in Greece) and a newborn hearing screening.

• First paediatrician visit: Usually within the first week. This is a good opportunity to ask about feeding, jaundice, weight gain, and anything else on your mind. Come with your questions written down - the appointment will feel short.

• One month check: Weight and development check. Your paediatrician will also discuss the upcoming vaccination schedule.

  
  

If you have not chosen a paediatrician yet, ask your OB or midwife for a recommendation. Word of mouth from other expat families is also invaluable - expat Facebook groups and communities in Athens are a good place to ask. If you have no scheduled postpartum appointments for you with your OB, it might be worth scheduling as well.

Managing the Greek summer

If your baby arrives between April and September, the heat is a real practical consideration from day one. Keep your home cool during the day - close blinds in the morning to block the heat - and dress your baby in lightweight, loose clothing. The ideal room temperature for a newborn is between 16°C and 20°C.

Babies under six months cannot regulate their temperature well and should not be in direct sun. No sunscreen before six months - shade, UPF clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat are what you need. For more detail on sun safety with a young baby in Greece, this post and this guide cover everything.

Visitors, boundaries, and the fourth trimester

In Greece, the first weeks with a new baby often come with a lot of visitors. Family and friends who love you and want to meet your baby - and who may have very strong opinions about how things should be done.

You are allowed to set limits. You are allowed to say not yet, to ask people to ring before they come, to keep visits short. Protecting your rest in the first weeks is not unkind - it is how you heal. Not all visits feel like support, and the ones that leave you more exhausted than before they arrived are worth limiting. Feel free to have a look at this reel and this post where I share about visitors.

The fourth trimester - the first twelve weeks after birth - is a significant transition for both you and your baby with lots of emotional and physical adjustments. Your baby has gone from a warm, constant environment to a world that is loud, bright, and unpredictable. Being held, fed, and responded to are not bad habits. They are exactly what a newborn needs.

When to reach out for support

Call your care provider or paediatrician if you notice that your baby has a temperature above 38°C, shows signs of jaundice (yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes) that seem to be worsening after day five, fewer wet nappies than expected, or if feeding is going badly and you are worried about your baby's weight.

For yourself: if you are struggling emotionally beyond the first two weeks, if anxiety feels unmanageable, or if something just does not feel right (such as pains, aches, bleeding) - please reach out. You do not need to be in crisis to ask for help.

The first month is hard everywhere. In Greece, with its particular combination of heat, family dynamics, and a healthcare system that works differently from what you grew up with, it comes with an extra layer.

If you are navigating early parenthood in Greece and want someone in your corner - whether that is a breastfeeding question, a postnatal conversation, or just an hour to talk through how things are going - I would love to help. Book a free discovery call