You can refer to baby books for the pretty pictures about life with your new bundle of joy. We’re here to give you the real, no-filter version of “what to expect when you’re expecting”...
Update: Article has been updated to reflect the latest accurate promotion details.
The impending arrival of a newborn is an exciting time, whether you’re a new parent or not. From reading various baby care books to speaking to as many parent friends as we can. Second, or third-time, parents may even do a mental ‘postmortem analysis’ on their past birth experiences to prep for the arrival of this new family member!
However, if there’s one thing we know for sure about babies, it’s that you can never be 100% prepared for their arrival. That being said, it doesn’t mean we still can’t try to get all our bases covered. So here’s a list of things no one tells you (but you wish they would) about having a newborn.
1. For most people, birthing is probably the easiest part of parenthood.
Regardless of whether yours is a vaginal or caesarean delivery, birthing is probably going to be the easiest thing to do as a parent. We’re speaking in retrospect, of course. We fully acknowledge the physical and mental toll that labour has on parents. It’s also true that it will feel like the most agonising moment of your life while you’re going through it. But trust us too when we say that taking care of a newborn is just as tough, if not tougher. This is especially so when coupled with a recovering body (which can feel really unpleasant), the lack of sleep, and the fact that you’re getting to know your baby’s needs and preferences from scratch. Let’s not forget the fact that newborns don’t communicate!
2. You may start to resent your partner occasionally…
This isn’t covered in most baby care books; nor is it something that your friends would be keen to share. In fact, a significant number of parents may think that they’re the only ones going through this ‘phase’. The good news is, according to an eight-year study, this ‘resentment’ is perfectly normal! Taking care of a newborn is hectic business for both parents. During the rush from each feed, diaper change, and nap time, you may easily feel the imbalance of parental responsibilities. One party may feel that they’re doing most of the heavy lifting, whereas the other may feel that their needs are being neglected. The key to overcoming this is open communication. So, don’t be shy to share what you feel with each other.
3. It’s possible for your newborn to fall sick.
It’s an unfortunate fact that most of us tend to overlook or forget. Perhaps you’re still basking in the joy of welcoming a new family member. Or maybe you’re just too busy with feeding, rocking, and cleaning. The thought of your newborn possibly falling sick is far from your mind, but it could happen. And if it does, it’s the scariest experience for every parent. Learn to look out for symptoms such as unusual lethargy, cold hands and feet, fever, shallow breathing, and if the soft spot on top of the head appears sunken. You may refer to HealthHub for a list of symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
4. Overstimulation is real… and it sucks.
Your newborn is a tiny baby who’s just entered a big, big world. Everything is new to them: from the sound of your voice to the brightness and warmth of sunlight. There’s just so much for their senses – all of which are still developing – so it can easily get a little overwhelming for a newborn. As such, they can get overstimulated really easily. Too many colours, too much noise, too hot, too cold – all of these may overwhelm your newborn. And when that happens, you’ll have a fussy, cranky, and terribly upset baby. What follows after that could be a domino effect, as your newborn may refuse to feed, and (gasps in horror) refuse to nap.
5. You will start to look forward to dirty diapers.
Not only will you look forward to it, but there are even days that you might even pray for a dirty diaper. That’s because your baby’s poop is one of the most obvious signs of their health! It’s a common parent thing to worry about a newborn’s pooping frequency, texture, and colour. All of these are tell tale signs of your baby’s well being. You’ll soon find yourselves worrying whether they’re pooping too much or too little. Yet it’s also so satisfying to see a dirty diaper with the right colour and texture at the right time. Gross but true!
6. It’s ok if you don’t bond with your newborn immediately.
You may be expecting to feel a sudden burst of joy and love towards your newborn the moment you lay eyes on them. But don’t be alarmed if you don’t! It’s completely normal for parents to take time to bond with their babies. It’s normal for some to feel a strong attachment instantly; it’s also normal for some parents to develop this bond over time. Frequent skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, and talking to your baby can help you bond with your baby.
7. You will miss the newborn phase.
The days may seem long, but the years are short. As your baby grows and starts to explore the world around them independently, you’ll find yourself missing the times when they’re completely reliant on you. The newborn phase is exactly that. It’s the phase when your child craves and allows you to hold them close at all times. Your child will go through many phases, each with its own surprise. However, these only happen once in a lifetime. So cherish every moment you have with your baby!
Protect and treasure every little moment you have with your child
No parent would want to miss being a part of their child’s daily life. Every moment is a memorable one, and every little milestone is worth celebrating. The best thing we can do as parents is to stay prepared and protect our family in every aspect. One way to go about it is to ensure your family is well covered by a health insurance plan. If you’re looking for such a plan, you may want to check out Income’s Enhanced IncomeShield health insurance. It’s an Integrated Shield Plan that supplements your MediShield Life coverage to cover you and your family’s hospital and surgical expenses.
At an affordable fee, Enhanced IncomeShield can increase your policy’s yearly claimable amount from $150,000 (with MediShield Life) to up to $1,500,000 depending on the chosen plan type. You’ll enjoy additional benefits when you seek treatment from more than 590 specialists in private clinics and hospitals, all of which are part of this plan’s panels1. Should any of your family require immediate hospitalisation, you may request for a Letter of Guarantee2 to waive hospital deposits. All these can provide you and your family with peace of mind to focus on the things that matter most. Should you feel the need for more protection, you may opt to enhance your plan with riders. These add-on riders are designed to keep your out-of-pocket expenses on hospital bills as low as possible, allowing co-payment of five percent of the claimable amount3. In the event that you need to accompany your insured child4 to during his or her stay in the hospital, you can even claim up to $80 a day (for a maximum of ten days each hospital stay) for the cost of the extra bed!
Bonus: If your child is between zero to one year old (born between 1 January 2022 and 31 July 2023), insure them with Enhanced IncomeShield by 31 July 2023 to receive a complimentary one-year health insurance plan^ for them. Find out more about the promotion here.
Interested in the Enhanced IncomeShield? You can find out more about the plan and its offerings on Income’s website.
The post is sponsored by Income.
Income’s Important Notes and T&Cs:
^ Only the premium for the additional private insurance coverage portion is complimentary. Policyholder will continue to pay premiums for the additional private insurance coverage portion in subsequent renewals of the policy. The premium for the MediShield Life portion, and any applicable riders attached to Enhanced IncomeShield or IncomeShield Standard Plan, shall also be payable accordingly. Premium rates differ across the various plan types and age bands. Promotion Terms and Conditions apply.
- Panel or preferred partner means a registered medical practitioner, specialist, hospital or medical institution approved by us. The lists of approved panels and preferred partners, which we may update from time to time, can be found at www.income.com.sg/specialist-panel. Our list of approved panels also includes all restructured hospitals, community hospitals and voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) dialysis centres.
- Subject to individual hospital guidelines. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Five percent (5%) co-payment is only applicable to Deluxe Care rider. Subject to precise terms, conditions and exclusions specified in the policy contract for Enhanced IncomeShield and riders.
- The insured child must be aged 18 years or below during the stay in the hospital under the insured child’s policy.
This article is for general information and should not be relied as financial advice. All opinion and information in this article are solely those of HoneyKids Asia. HoneyKids Asia is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information and intellectual property used in this article. Income is not responsible to any party for this article. You should seek advice from a qualified advisor if in doubt. Buying insurance that are not suitable for you may impact your ability to finance your future insurance needs. Precise terms, conditions and exclusions of the plan are found in the policy contract. This plan is underwritten and issued by Income.
Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.
Information is correct as at 27 March 2023.
