Newbies: New Moms, New Babies

When your baby is born, you examine every inch of its tiny, little body. And you may find some things you didn't expect such as a birthmark or stork bite. What do these marks actually mean and what causes them to appear on your baby? Plus, learn how to properly care for your baby's umbilical cord and belly button after birth.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes after birth we don’t feel like ourselves, but eventually those feelings resolve. For some women, their postpartum time is filled with anxiety and compulsions, racing thoughts and sometimes voices in their heads, hallucinations and even violent behaviors. How are these conditions diagnosed? And what kind of impact can it have on the entire family?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a newborn, then you're no stranger to your little one's weird, jerky movements. Thankfully, those crazy moves are completely normal. In fact, these infant reflexes are designed to protect your baby and keep him safe. So, what can you expect as a new parent? What happens during the moro reflex, sucking reflex and the root reflex? Will your child always have them or will they eventually go away?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You recently had a baby and your transition into motherhood may leave you a little puzzled. Who are you, now that you're a mom? How do you shift between caring for yourself, your partner and this new little being that just came into the world? How do you discover your new identity?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you go to the pediatrician, they take all sorts of measurements and track your baby's progress through infant growth charts. So, who created these charts and how are averages determined? Do breastfed babies grow any differently than formula fed babies? And what does the term "failure to thrive" actually mean?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes unexpected events during childbirth can wound a new mother. The physical scars fade, but the emotional trauma can produce feelings of helplessness, shame, and defeat. How can a mother process these emotions and even embrace them as moments of courage and strength, rather than weakness? And how can loved ones support mom during this important transition?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've heard the phrase skin-to-skin, but what about kangaroo care? How can this intimate way of holding your baby increase bonding after birth? What are some of the other benefits? How can it help with breastfeeding? And how does it ease the struggles many premature and NICU babies face?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having another child after experiencing postpartum depression, or another perinatal mental health disorder may seem daunting as a new mother. What if it happens again? What if it is worse? Who would sign themselves up for this experience again? How can you reconcile this fear with the longing for more babies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having a sick baby can be a terrifying experience for new parents. It's hard to know exactly what to do when your little one's fever is rising and they can barely breathe because they're so congested. So, how can you help your baby feel better (since you can use medication)? And how do you clear all the snot and boogers from your baby's nose so they're more comfortable? And what's the general rule when it comes to babies and fevers?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Birth certificates and social security cards, most of us use this information on a daily basis. And all the paperwork to create those documents start the moment you are born. As a parent, what do you need to know about filling out these documents for your child? How does the processing of these documents differ if delivering in a hospital versus a birthing center?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your baby seems to cry, a lot. She also spends a lot of her time moving, grunting, and cooing. Maybe she is trying to communicate what is going on in her tiny little body, but you don’t understand. Is there a way to decode what your baby’s body language is saying? Does this baby come with a user manual? Help!

Bringing home a baby is a major life-changing event. As parents, we are all adjusting to a new baby and a new identity. This inevitably impacts our relationship with one another as well as with family and friends. What are the common stressors that trigger how we interact with other people? How can we communicate our feelings in a healthy and constructive way without creating distance? And what are some ways we can create reasonable expectations so our relationships can thrive?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New moms experience many new emotions after the birth of their baby, and some of those feelings may surprise you, such as anxiety. Postpartum anxiety is a common condition that is often overlooked because of the belief that new mothers are just naturally anxious. So, what are the symptoms and how does it differ from other postpartum mood disorders? And how can this condition impact a mother's ability to care for her child if gone untreated?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As your baby grows, so does his ability to sleep for longer periods of time. So, how does this impact the naps you have scheduled throughout the day? How much sleep does your baby really need, and how does this change along with their overall development? How do you drop naps throughout the day and still make sure your baby isn't cranky or wide awake when it's nighttime?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your baby's head in uniquely made to mold for birth and move to accommodate a growing and developing brain. So, what are those soft spots that most new parents are afraid to touch? Where can you find them? And what changes can you expect within your baby's first year?