If you’re searching for newborn week 1 because everything feels new, emotional and slightly overwhelming, please know this: every Pretoria mom I meet tells me the same thing — “I didn’t know what was normal.” As a newborn photographer who speaks with moms daily, I hear the same worries repeat: feeding confusion, tiny noises, peeling skin, sleepy days and wide-awake nights. Week 1 is full of small surprises, but most of them are completely normal. You and your baby are learning each other gently, one hour at a time.
1. Feeding feels constant (and that’s normal)
During newborn week 1, your baby may want to feed every 1–3 hours. Their tummy is tiny, and this frequent feeding helps milk supply grow. Cluster feeding — where baby wants to be on the breast for long stretches — is common and healthy. Bottle-fed babies may also feed more often during this first week. Many Pretoria moms tell me they worry something is wrong because their baby wants to feed so much. But this constant feeding helps your baby feel safe and supported. It also helps them adjust to life outside the womb.
2. Sleep happens in short bursts
Newborns sleep a lot in week 1, but not in long stretches. Your baby may sleep 14–17 hours total, broken up into short pockets of rest. Their sleep cycles are tiny and unpredictable. This is why many moms say the first week with newborn feels like one long day. Your baby doesn’t know day from night yet. That rhythm will come later. For now, follow their natural cues and rest whenever possible. Short naps for you make a big difference.
3. Noises, sneezes and hiccups are expected
Babies in newborn week 1 make so many little sounds — grunts, squeaks, snorts and sighs. These sounds can surprise first-time moms, but they’re normal. Hiccups are common too. Your baby’s digestive and nervous systems are still adjusting. Sneezes don’t always mean sickness — babies sneeze to clear their tiny nasal passages. If your baby’s colour looks normal and they’re feeding well, these sounds are simply part of being brand-new.
4. Peeling skin and puffy eyes can happen
Many Pretoria moms feel worried when they see their baby’s skin peeling in week 1. But this happens because the baby’s top layer of skin (from the womb) sheds naturally after birth. Puffy eyelids are also common, especially after long labours or C-sections. As long as swelling improves and there’s no redness or discharge, this is part of newborn healing. Babies change SO quickly in the first seven days — even from morning to night.
5. Your emotions may feel huge and unexpected
New moms often say the newborn first few weeks feel like a rollercoaster. You might love your baby so deeply it scares you. You might cry without knowing why. You might feel proud one minute and unsure the next. These emotions are normal. Your hormones shift, your sleep changes and your heart expands to make room for a new little life. Be gentle with yourself. You’re adjusting too.
Final Thoughts on newborn week 1
You and your baby are learning a rhythm together — slowly, softly and imperfectly. Most of what you’re experiencing is normal, even if it feels new to you. You are doing better than you think.
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Here is good read for a new mom: Newborn First Night Home – What Pretoria Moms Should Expect
