Bringing Your Newborn Home

Birth is not easy on anyone. You are worn out and stressed, and your newborn is learning to cope with a new bright and noisy environment. Even if the birth was a smooth one, you are both going through a lot of changes and will tend to be out of sorts for the first few weeks. The important thing is to just stay calm and take things slowly during this adjustment period. Some of the tips below may help ease the transition.

Talk and sing to your newborn

Your baby grows used to the sound of your voice while he is growing inside of you. Therefore after he is born, your voice will continue to have a soothing effect on him. So sing lullabies, talk to him and read rhyming stories so he can be calmed by your familiar voice.

Make eye contact with your newborn

Your newborn may not have perfect vision but he can still see you. Most mothers will tell you their newborn can look into their eyes and that they show signs of recognition. Get your newborn familiar with your face by talking to him and looking him in the eye while you massage him and interact with him.

Touch your newborn often

It's natural and common sense. Stroking your newborn's arms, legs and head will relax him and enhance your bond. You might want to learn infant massage techniques so you can help him fall asleep and relieve stress. Hold your baby next to you and carry him in a baby sling if possible. This will help to reassure and calm your newborn and help him to thrive. Using a baby sling will keep your baby close but allow you to move your arms around and do other things at the same time. This can have a calming effect upon you too. The first few weeks of life is not the time to let your baby cry it out alone in his crib.

Respond to your newborn's cries

Crying is the only way your newborn has to communicate. It could mean he is hungry, old, in pain, sick, or just bored. At this young age, the best thing for you to do is respond to his cries by picking him up and cuddling and trying to determine the reason behind his cries. It won't be long until you are able to decipher his cries and will be able to soothe him quickly. Don't worry about spoiling your newborn. At this young age, babies need to be tended to in order to help them feel secure and to develop trust and enhance maternal bonding.

Don't try to be perfect

During those first few weeks, you may be out of sync with your newborn and feel like crying yourself. Don't expect perfection from yourself or your newborn. Just take it slow and communicate your love and let everything else fall into place.

Fall City woman pleads guilty in horse-abuse case - Seattle Times

Fall City woman pleads guilty in horse-abuse case Seattle Times, United States - 5 hours ago A Fall City woman whose property was littered with dead and dying horses pleaded guilty Thursday to three felony counts of first-degree animal cruelty. ... Carnation woman pleads guilty to animal cruelty Seattle Post Intelligencer all 2 news articles

Successful equine embryo transfer takes proper care, correct timing - The Prairie Star

Successful equine embryo transfer takes proper care, correct timing The Prairie Star, MT - 3 hours ago “It is reserved for the horses of tremendous emotional or monetary value,” added Nollmeyer. “It is best to assume there will need to be two attempts for one ...

Cindy McCain: Painful secrets - Independent

Cindy McCain: Painful secrets Independent, UK - 2 hours ago In school she had "perfect" grades, rode horses and studied ballet. These days she prefers to stress her history as a philanthropist from her days at the ...

Dollars & Change: Hard times for horses and owners - Monterey County Herald

Dollars & Change: Hard times for horses and owners Monterey County Herald, CA - 17 hours ago "We really can't cut many corners here because our equines need food and care. But we watch the horses a little closer to make sure they're not throwing ...

Curlin 3-5 favorite for Woodward - Schenectady Gazette

Curlin 3-5 favorite for Woodward Schenectady Gazette, NY - 18 hours ago Not only is Curlin the best horse going in the race, he’s probably one of the best horses I’ve seen in the last 15 years.” The 2007 Horse of the Year, ...