	Trying to conceive

	Pregnancy

	Newborn

	Baby

	School Age

	Teen

	Baby Names

	Baby Links

At Home with Your Newborn

For many mothers the first weeks at home with a new baby are often the hardest in their lives. You will probably feel overworked, even overwhelmed. Inadequate sleep will leave you fatigued. Caring for a baby can be a lonely and stressful responsibility.

Every baby awakens one or more times a night. The way to avoid sleep deprivation is to know the total amount of sleep you need per day and to get that sleep in bits and pieces. Go to bed earlier in the evening after your baby's final feeding of the day. When your baby naps you must also nap. Your baby doesn't need you hovering while he or she sleeps. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of your baby.

Crying babies need to be held. They need someone with a soothing voice and a soothing touch. You can't spoil your baby during the early months of life. Overly sensitive babies may need an even gentler touch. Remember to place your baby in his crib on his back as the back (supine) position reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

More than 50% of women experience postpartum blues on the third or fourth day after delivery. The symptoms include tearfulness, tiredness, sadness, and difficulty in thinking clearly. The main cause of this temporary reaction is probably the sudden decrease of maternal hormones. In any event, these symptoms usually clear in 1 to 3 weeks as the hormone levels return to normal and the mother develops routines and a sense of control over her life.

There are several ways to cope with the postpartum blues. Get adequate rest; get help with all your work, renew contact with other people - don't become isolated.

Becoming a good parent means much more than knowing a lot about babies. All new parents feel the same way. All new parents work at knowing, understanding, and loving their babies. This is the process of attachment-the work that parents and babies do together to form a deep and lasting love. It is what becoming a family is all about.