Although new babies like to look and listen, they can only do it for short periods of time. Then they need a brief break. Your baby will signal the need for a break by doing one or more of these things:
= Looking away or turning her head
=Arching her back
=Breathing faster, harder of briefly holding her breath
=Getting red, pale, or mottled
=Starting
=Coughing or sneezing
=Hiccuping
=Spitting up
=Having a bowel movement
When you see these signs, stop the activity for a bit until she signals she is ready again. She will do this by quieting, looking at you, widening her eyes or brightening her face.
YOUR BABY'S SIGHT:
Even before birth, babies can see. Ultrasound pictures have shown babies in the uterus watching the beam of a penlight. Right after they are born, babies see things best when they are about eight to ten inches away. This is the distance between your baby's eyes and yours when your baby is cradled in your arms. Although babies like to look at bright colors and patterns, they like faces best. When your baby looks at you, he is getting to know your face. By the time he is a week old. he will be able to recognize your face.
YOUR BABY'S ACTIVITY LEVEL:
When babies get over-stimulated, they often begin to fuss and cry. They may even fall asleep on order to shut out the activity.
During pregnancy, babies are stimulated by their environment.
=Is there a time of day when your baby is more active?
=How does this intense activity change? Does your baby become suddenly still, or is there a gradual quieting?
=How do your activities affect your baby's activity level?
YOUR BABY'S CRY:
Babies have different kinds of cries that signal specific needs. As you take care of your baby, you will learn what each kindof cry means and how best to satisfy that need. You will learn by trying different things and seeing what works best.
Babies do things to comfort themselves, like suck on a finger or thumb.
Babies can suck their thumb even before they are born. Each day has things that he prefers for comforts.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS:
A Father is a very important person in a child's life. Babies whose father are involved with them show all sorts of positive benefits. They have a better self-image and do better in school.
Fathers offer babies a kind of interaction that is different from mothers. By four weeks of age, a baby reacts differently to the sight of her father. She hunches forward and her face gets a look of eager anticipation-eyebrows up, mouth open, eyes bright. She is ready to play.
Many fathers "play" with their babies even before birth by talking and singging to them or by gently massaging the mother's abdomen.
SHARED PARENTING:
Fathers and Mothers can have different styles of parenting. Learning to parent involves learning from successes as well as mistakes. It is important that both mothers and fathers have their own times to take care of the babies.
YOUR BABY'S DOCTOR:
Make an appointment with your baby's doctor while you are still pregnant. Call to arrange a prenatal interview. and plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes together. Invite your partner to come along.
Discuss any special concerns you've had during pregnancy. Ask about office hours, what to do in a emergency. and which hospitals the health care provider works with. Find out whether some questions can be answered over the phone. Ask how soon after birth you should plan to bring your newborn in for the first check-up. Be sure the provider's service are covered by your health plan, or discuss payment options.
FALLING IN LOVE:
The learning and planning you have done in preparation for your baby's birth will ease your transition to parenting a newborn. Nothing, however, can prepare you for the intensity of the early weeks with your baby- the hour spent watching each breath and movement, the scent of his head, the way he studies your face. This time of falling in love is like no other. Hold, cuddle and delight in your baby. You can't spoil him. You are building a relationship that lasts a lifetime.
