Caring for Your Newborn Baby

Helpful Advice for New Moms: Caring for Your Newborn

Here is a great article on the value of swaddling your newborn to help soothe her. The theory behind swaddling is that it mimics the conditions of the womb, i.e. tight snug quarters. Then, if you rock or swing your baby it further mimics the experience of the womb since when you were pregnant you were usually moving around creating an active environment for your baby.

Here is a link to an article about swaddling your baby:

http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Swaddling--Independence-versus-interdependence-3770.htm




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Also, here is a link to a thoughtful blog entry about the difficulties of caring for a newborn who is crying inconsolably:

http://birthsupport.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/crying-babies-and-shaken-baby-syndrome/


Original post at New Mom Central.

Postpartum Depression

The risk of postpartum depression (PPD) is at its highest during the first three months after a woman gives birth to her first baby (data on adoptive mothers is not available). This does not mean that you will get it, but you should be aware of the symptoms if you do. Taking steps to help yourself if you are experiencing PPD will be beneficial to both you and your baby because it will help you feel better, which will affect your interactions with your baby, as well as your energy level in caring for her or him.

Here’s a link to a recent article that outlines the specific symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). If you are a new mother and are experiencing these symptoms, first of all do not be alarmed and, secondly, talk to your doctor, a friend, your mother, anyone who will take you seriously. You need to be able to talk about what you’re feeling and to get the appropriate help if you need it. Certainly, if your depression becomes severe enough so that you start hearing voices or feeling like you may harm yourself or your baby, see a professional IMMEDIATELY.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.babygooroo.com/index.php/2007/10/09/postpartum-depression-and-national-depression-screening-day/


Original post at New Mom Central.

Are you Expecting Your First Baby?

Do you…
- Believe that your mother’s intuition will “kick in” after you give birth and tell you everything you need to know to take care of your new baby?
- Fantasize about months of maternal bliss after the birth of your baby?
- Expect that your baby will be an “easy” baby who rarely cries and sleeps through the night almost immediately?
- Expect that you will receive all the help you need after you have your baby?
- Imagine you will live your life the same way you did before the birth?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you are not alone. Romantic myths abound of what it feels like to become a mother for the very first time. The first months following the birth of a woman’s first baby is perceived as an eternally blissful period—a maternal symbiosis in which a woman croons to her newborn while breastfeeding him each day and basks in the joy of being a new mother. As a result, women have come to expect a fairy tale experience of the transition into motherhood. The real experience is rarely discussed openly among mothers for fear they will burst the “bubble” of this symbiotic fantasy. Many women feel guilty if they complain about how difficult this period is and assume that there must be something wrong with them.


Original post at New Mom Central.