What your newborn baby can do
Your newborn baby has her own very special personality and she may surprise you with what she can do. Spend as much time as you can with her, and you'll soon get to know every little expression and sound she makes.
Posture and senses
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At first, your baby's head is too heavy for her back and neck muscles to support. All her postures when not lying down are governed by her developing ability to control her head. If you put your baby on her back, she'll probably turn her head to one side, stretch out her arm on that side, and flex the opposite arm in towards her chest. When she's a week old, she'll raise her head in small jerks when she's supported on your shoulder. At six weeks she'll probably hold up her head for more than a minute.
From birth, she has fairly good senses of hearing, smell, and taste. At first, she mainly touches things with her mouth. She'll soon recognize you by smell, and by sight, too, within a couple of weeks. When you hold your baby close to you for the first time, she'll focus on your face, and look into your eyes. Babies like looking at faces more than anything else. Hearing high-pitched human voices gives her great pleasure, and she'll like yours, and your partner's deeper one, more than any others.
A newborn baby's reflexes
All babies have certain automatic movements - reflexes - which help them protect themselves. They usually last until about three months and are then lost. For example, your baby will close her eyes if you touch her eyelids. All babies have a strong sucking reflex if you press the palate in the mouth. Babies are born with the swallowing reflex - they've had to use it when swallowing fluids in the womb - and so they can swallow colostrum or milk the instant they are born.
Sounds your newborn will make
Breathing
Your baby's breathing may seem much lighter than yours. At times it may be irregular or fast and noisy, and she may snuffle as she tries to draw air through her small nasal passages. You might not always hear her breathing at first, but it'll get stronger every day.
Sneezes
Light stimulates the nerves to your baby's nose as well as her eyes, and bright lights may make her sneeze. A sneeze will clear out her nasal passages, and stop dust getting into her lungs. Don't worry when your baby sneezes - it's quite common and it doesn't mean she has a cold.
Hiccups
Your baby may hiccup often and this is perfectly normal. Hiccups can be caused when the diaphragm makes sudden, irregular contractions. They're a sign that the muscles used in breathing are getting stronger, and are trying to work together.
Get to know your new born baby
Spend as much time as you can playing with your baby - it's vital to her development.
Try to recognize her needs
You will soon start to understand her different expressions. When she's content she'll look tranquil and quiet. When she's feeling miserable or uncomfortable she'll look rather red and flustered.
Playing together
Don't worry about looking silly when you're playing with your baby. Pull funny faces and use a high-pitched voice, telling her how much you love her. She'll answer by nodding, moving her mouth, maybe sticking out her tongue, and jerking her body.
Why does your new born cry?
- Your baby's first cry may sound more like a whimper, or splutter, before it turns into a full-blown cry. She'll take a deep breath, her body will tense, her face will grimace and become bright red, and she'll open her mouth wide and literally scream. Distressing as you might find this, it does show that your baby's perfectly healthy.
- She'll cry when she's hungry, and usually won't stop until she's put to your nipple or given a bottle.
- Tiredness, uncomfortable clothing, being too hot or too cold, or being undressed are all other reasons why babies cry.
- Babies love being with you; if they feel abandoned they'll cry until picked up and cuddled.
Posted 30.06.2010
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