Learning to Understand Your Newborn

Bringing baby home for the first time can be a very daunting experience. Your perfect baby in hospital suddenly becomes uncontrollable and demanding. Learning how to read the needs of your newborn mostly comes from experience so remember how the nurses wrapped your baby in hospital, watch your mum as she burps her and how your grandmother rocks and nurses her.

Remember that a newborn doesn't cry to manipulate you to get her own way, she cries because she has a need. So if she has just been fed, has had her nappy changed and is not ready for a sleep, which are the three basic needs of a newborn, try soothing her by other means such as a tepid bath, gentle massage, walk in the pram or a drive in the car (maybe to mum's or a friend).

If the crying reaches a point where it is unmanageable there are many avenues you can turn to for help. Your clinic sister or family doctor are always there to talk to and can refer you to services where you spend a day at a "cottage" under the supervision of a trained midwife who will help and guide you and your baby into a routine.

The newborn period only lasts a few short months and she will soon be cooing, smiling, giggling and you will be wondering how those first few weeks and months passed so quickly.