of your days. As with all close and conscious
relationships, the relationship between you and your little one refines you. It
will stretch you to become patient by giving you opportunities to practice
patience; to become more loving not because you want to be, but because
any other response will leave you more frustrated; to see all the patterns of
reaction that you have learned throughout your life and to exercise your
ability to respond with more kindness, more awareness, and more love. It is important to mother purposefully , with intention and love, rather
than acting and reacting from an unconscious place. Your actions in the first
years are being soaked up by your little one’ s psyche and forming their
views of themselves and the world around them. They are learning in every
interaction: Am I worthy of love? Can I give love freely? Is it okay to ask
for what I need? Will my needs be met? Am I safe? Is the world safe? According to Ayurveda, the element of ether is heightened in a baby . They are connected, tuned in; they feel everything. They can feel subtle
energy, and if you pay close attention, you will notice that they behave and
act dif ferently based on the subtleties of their environment. They feel if
there is hostility . They feel when your actions are coming from a place of
love or when they are coming from a place of anger , resentment, or
frustration. The underlying ener gy of all your actions instills foundational
beliefs within your little one, and therefore how they learn to interact with
the world. I remember when my little guy kept biting me when he first got his two
bottom teeth. Every few minutes while nursing he would chomp down on
my nipple. I started to feel frustrated, feeling like he was doing it on
purpose. From this frustrated place, I put him down on the bed, moved to
the other side of the bed, and turned my back to him. Suddenly , I realized what I was doing. Oh my God.I turned and looked at his little face and he looked stunned, studying my
own face to know how he should feel. My pattern throughout my life was to
close down and withdraw my love when I was hurt so that the other person
would know that they did something wrong. I probably did this with my
dad when I was young; I have done it with my husband; and now , there I
was, doing it to my little son. I learned it from my own mama, who I am
sure learned it from hers. I thought I had healed that pattern years ago through the work I had
done in my relationship with my husband. But here I was, being refined by
my little one, seeing the parts of me that still had not healed; the parts of me
that were still unable to love; the parts of me that were still triggered, and
thus attached to a story from my past; the part of me that needed to prove
something in order to love or be loved. And now I was unconsciously acting
out the same drama that would instill the same beliefs, and thus the same
patterns, into my little one. Wow. I noticed. I became aware. And that is the first step of all healing and transformation. First, check your ener gy. If I am frustrated with my baby when he is biting me and I put him
down to “teach him a lesson,” then tell him (from that frustrated place) that
what he did was not okay , he feels the frustration and also the guilt of doing
something “wrong.” An infant not only feels guilt, but they connect all their
experiences to their value and worthiness as a person. Next, take a deep breath. I dropped into the boundless reservoir of love and compassion that God
has gifted mamas with. I looked at my little angel in that mood, and
immediately he softened and smiled. From a loving place, I let him know
that biting hurts mama, that it does not feel good.As I’m sure you have heard, it’ s not necessarily what  you do or what
you say , but more the ener gy that you do or say it with, that has the most
effect. It is not about not expressing what you need, or not putting him
down, but more importantly , how did you express your needs? How  did you
put him down? What was the ener gy behind  your actions? As that is what is
felt the most. Responding from a place of love and care creates a
completely dif ferent experience for your babe. Beneath every behavior is a feeling, and beneath every
feeling is a need. Rather than responding to a baby’ s
behavior , respond to their needs. What needs are they
expressing through  their actions? Do they need more
attention? More presence? Do they need to feel more
comfortable? When you meet their needs, you are
addressing the cause of their behavior , rather than
temporarily pacifying the symptoms. What are other , more ef fective ways to communicate with your little one
without making them feel ashamed about who they are, or guilty for what
they did? Again, your little one does not know that what they are doing is
causing harm. They do not know “right” from “wrong,” “good” from “bad.”
They are simply experiencing the world from a deep state of being. Our
task at this time is to respond in such a way that allows them to feel safe
and to let them know , through our ener gy and actions, that they are
fundamentally cared for , valued, and worthy of love, no matter what. How then, do you create clear boundaries without limiting their self-
expression? What can you do instead of responding to your teething baby’ spain with more pain? Speaking practically , you can recognize their need to
bite on something and of fer your finger or a teething toy instead of nursing,
and then you can return to the nursing session later when they are not
hurting as much. Perhaps you can voice to them with a loving yet firm and
serious tone that “that hurts” and that you will not let them bite, and that
you will not give them milk when they bite. Your boundaries are important, and by no means do you have to suf fer
the pain of a biting baby while nursing. But instead of using punishment as
a form of teaching, there are constructive ways to create the boundaries that
you need while simultaneously letting the baby know that they can express
their  needs without being punished. The definition of discipline that Magda
Gerber , a renowned early childhood educator , shares in Dear Par ent:
Caring for Infants with Respect  is “training that develops self-control,
character .” This is in line with the actual source of the word, the Latin root
disciplina,  which means “instruction” or “knowledge.” So, discipline is
educating  our children so that they understand appropriate behavior , values,
and how to control their impulses—rather than punishment that makes the
child feel ashamed or “bad.” By cultivating the perspective that your little
one is never trying to cause you stress, pain, or suf fering, you can respond
to them in a way that is respectful and clear , and in a way that models the
behavior you want them to learn. By expressing to them that it hurts when
they bite, they may learn how to express themselves when they are hurt in a
respectful way; when you provide them with an alternative relief for
teething, they may learn that they can count on you for support when they
need you. By being clear in your ener gy and intentional with your responses
—rather than becoming triggered and then responding unconsciously—you
support them in learning how to regulate their own emotions and create the
boundaries necessary for them (and you!) to feel safe. You will feel much, much better as a mama when your actions come
from a place of responsiveness, compassion, presence, and care. You will
also notice that it is a much more ef fective way to teach your little one. You have to be so mindful as a mama, and simultaneously so gentle,
patient, and for giving toward yourself. Mamas tend to put so much pressureon themselves to be “perfect”; but you deserve just as much grace and
forgiveness as you are giving your child. You are learning. You will become
triggered at some point. It is an opportunity for your growth. And like any
spiritual endeavor , conscious motherhood is a practice. We are all conditioned by our past experiences—by the ways that our
parents dealt with us and the ways we have seen others being treated. We
are af fected by our friends, by the media, and by society . When you are a
new mother , many new things arise that you have never experienced before
and therefore may not know how to respond to in ways that are actually
supportive. Guilt is a common emotion among mamas, though rather than getting
stuck in it, know that it is there to show you what you value. The experience
of guilt makes it crystal clear when you have acted out of alignment with
what you care about, and thus it helps you self-correct the next time around. The important part is to be able to notice the way you reacted, to become
aware of the way in which you wish you showed up, and to keep refining. Children do not need a perfect mama. They need a mama who is genuine
and who is committed to the work of becoming better . Apologize to your
little one when you step out of line. Let them know that it wasn’ t okay how
you spoke to them, ignored them, or touched their body . Let them know that
it wasn’ t their fault and that there is nothing they could do to make you not
love them. Take responsibility for your actions so that they eventually learn
how to take responsibility for theirs. This repairing also supports your little
one, from the youngest of ages, to rewrite—or reintegrate—what happened
in a way that is supportive for their development. You are a newborn mama. You are learning how to love in the deepest and
most profound way possible. Swami Prabhupada would often say that the closest thing to God’ s love
that we can experience in this world is the love that a mother has for her
child. Experiencing this love from the inside out, from the heart of a mama,has revealed much to me about the way God loves us all. Wow, God loves
me without reason. There is nothing I could do to make Him not love me. There is no way that I could act that would make the Divine turn away from
me. I am not “good” or “bad” in His eyes. I am simply me, and that is
perfect. How can I become an instrument of that boundless, shoreless ocean
of love in my little one’ s life? In the Puranas, the Ultimate Mother is known as Sri Radha. Both the
Padma Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana elaborate on her pastimes of
love with Lord Krishna and reveal how the divine couple is the Source of
all that is. Sri Radha is the embodiment of love and compassion. You can
pray to her to become an instrument of divine, motherly grace: to know
how to love your little one without conditions. Mother Yasoda is Lord
Krishna’ s mother . You can pray to her for the wisdom of how to raise your
little one with devotional love. Goddess Bhumi is Mother Earth: the
epitome of generosity , care, nourishment, and reciprocation. You can honor
Mother Earth for being the perfect example of how to love no matter what. The ancient Vedic scriptures guide us toward living a life where we
intentionally support each other , respect the world, and honor God as the
source of all that is. When we show up in our relationships, of fering our
gifts without selfish motives, without the need for validation or recognition,
we will feel a deep satisfaction and fulfillment that might otherwise feel
elusive. While this may be hard to conceptualize, the living example of
millions of mothers gives us an insight into what selflessness really is. Devotional service is love expressed. I remember when I was learning to love my little one: the kind of love
that is beyond what I could feel, but rather a love that stemmed from
learning what he needed and how I could serve him. I remember the depth
of experience I began to move into as I took full responsibility of caring for
him, and the realization that the experience of love is deeply enhanced
through service. When you really love someone, you will naturally go out
of your way to make them feel happy , content, and at peace. It will give you
the greatest joy to see them joyful, and the greatest satisfaction to know
they are satisfied.My first experience of loving him was a knowing that there was nothing
I would not do to protect him. There is nothing I would not give up or give
away if it meant that he would be safe. Through serving him, I began to
know a love that I had only heard about from others. My own needs
effortlessly became secondary , as the well-being of my little one moved to
become my top priority—a constant meditation and full absorption. The
way a mama serves her little one is unmotivated and uninterrupted, which
births a love consisting of those same qualities. un·mo·ti·vat·ed: without a reason or motive. un·in·ter·rupt·ed: without a break in continuity . You are here to love, and thus serve, your little one—to let them feel the
way that God loves them through the way that you care. When you can
remember who they really are, beyond the limited scope of “your” child,
you can see the pure spirit soul within their tiny little body; this eternal
spirit who has been traveling from one body into the next since time
immemorial searching for the lasting happiness that can only be found in
connection to their true Self and in relation with God. You can understand
that the greatest service, while caring for their basic needs and loving them
with attention and intention, is to raise them to know who they really are,
beyond their body , mind, and emotions. Instill within them, through your
own example, the real value of living a deeper life and the importance of
spiritual connection. Nama Karana Samskara: Name-Giving
Ceremony
In Vedic tradition, it is auspicious for the parents to have the
name-giving ceremony— nama karana —on the 10th day ,
12th day , 101st day , or first year after the birth of their baby .After the father spends the morning bathing and worshipping
the Lord with certain of ferings and mantras, the V edic name-
giving ceremony is done with the father of fering ghee-
soaked wood into a fire while saying specific prayers. If you will be doing a baby-naming ceremony , you can
bring your own sacred intention into naming your baby . Start
the morning by cleaning your house and then taking a
shower . Make a small fire or light some candles, and
arrange some flowers, leaves, or fruits in a mandala shape
around the fire with the intention of creating a sacred space. Say the following prayer , or a prayer that you write
yourself with similar intention. I offer my respects to the earth. I offer my respects to the space between the heavens
and the earth. I offer my respects to the heavens. I offer my respects to the universe. With your family sitting around the fire, you can hold your
baby in a clean cloth and sit on the father ’s right side. Handing the baby to their father , mama walks behind papa
and comes to his left side. At this point you should be facing
east. The father touches the mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears
of the baby with his right hand and says:
Your essence is spiritual, immortal like the Lord, O
[baby’ s name] enter in this solar month. May the Lord
consign you to the day . May the day consign you to the
night. May the night consign you to the day and night. May day and night consign you to half-months. May the
half-month consign you to the full months. May the
months consign you to the seasons. May the seasonsconsign you to the year . May the years consign you to
long life, O [baby’ s name]. The father then whispers the name of the baby into the
left ear of the mother , saying, “[baby’ s name] is your
son/daughter .”
The father then gives the baby back to the mother and
places more ghee-soaked wood into the fire. He can end the
ceremony by saying the same of fering of respects as in the
beginning. He cried a lot this week. And I bounced on the ball as I put him down for a nap
and cried too. I begged him, or God, to just tell me what he needed. I felt frustrated when he seemed to cry for no reason
and sometimes annoyed
by how much he needed me. I felt like I needed a moment. One breath. Two seconds
for me. The ability to shower without saying,
“I’m just showering, little angel! I’ll be right there!”
To eat a whole meal in peace,
or at least sitting in one place. And then he smiles
and my whole world melts. My whole world
melts.I am yours, little one. Completely taken. I feel like God must have given mamas super powers. Truly. To love like this is unreal. And the ability to serve like this…
what an opportunity . I need you too, little one. I’m learning what it means
to love. L. R. Knost, the author of Two Thousand Kisses a Day  and The Gentle
Parent, writes,
I discovered early in my parenting journey that raising my voice
might scare my children into compliance, but it taught them nothing
other than to be afraid of me, to hide their mistakes and problems
from me, and to raise their own voice when they were frustrated or
upset themselves. Speaking quietly , though, drew them in close,
quieted them down, built trust, and opened their little ears and minds
and hearts to my words and my thoughts and the life lessons I wanted
them to learn. Teaching and guiding and modeling positive
communication skills naturally took center stage once I’d made that
first discovery . Learning to control myself rather than try to control
my children, to show respect instead of demanding respect, to listen
instead of lecture, to communicate instead of command, to parent
instead of punish, to problem-solve instead of becoming part of the
problem myself, has been the journey of a lifetime. What a lifetime
it’s been. As mamas,
our job is to instill within them the knowingthat there is nothing they could do
that would make them undeserving of our love. That there is no emotional state
that we cannot hold space for with patience and attention. There is no need
that is too big of a burden. It’s a practice,
as there are moments when I’m tested. And I know that when I’m tested to step into something,
there lie my greatest opportunities for healing and growth. There are moments when I feel things or want to do things
that I would never do. There are moments when I want to shake you. There are moments when I want to leave you crying on the bed. There are moments when I want to avoid you or ignore you. There are moments when it takes everything in me
to take a deep breath. To pause. To ask myself,
“How can I love you more, little one?”
And I feel guilty even admitting these things,
because I feel that maybe I’m the only mama in the world that
ever feels like this. Though I know that I’m not,
because this is the work of a mama. There are moments
when I want to project onto you
what’ s happening inside of me
instead of taking responsibility .These are the moments
where healing can happen. When I don’t react out of frustration or anger;
When I don’t act based on how my parents may have acted;
When I choose not to act based on my patterns and conditioned
beliefs;
When I instead exercise my ability to
respond
with more awareness, more love, and more kindness. The real work of a mama is the inner work. Where are your actions coming from? A place of love? A place of frustration or anger? Because that’ s what they feel
and that’ s how they then learn
to respond to the world. Deep breath, mamas. It’s a huge responsibility . It’s the most important work. And I’m right here with you. Understanding Newborns
Your newborn babe has left the warm, watery , dark, quiet, and comforting
home of your womb and entered into a world that is cold, dry , bright, loud,
and startling in contrast. You will notice them adapting to these changes in
different ways. Their skin may become dry; their arms will reach out
looking for the distinct boundary of the surrounding womb, though now
they feel only space.In order to support them in developing a nervous system that is well
adjusted to their environment, it is essential to help ease their transition into
the world. This is why Ayurveda places a strong emphasis on the
postpartum window as a time where mama and babe stay at home. The
home environment can be kept quiet, peaceful, predictable, warm, and
comfortable, so that your baby can adjust well and develop a stable nervous
system. Newborn babies do not need much else besides your love and care. Generally speaking, a healthy newborn that does not have any medical
conditions or temporary imbalances will cry for only a handful of reasons. If your baby seems unhappy or uncomfortable, check their basic needs first. Is their diaper dirty? Are they hungry? Are they tired? Are they too hot or
too cold? Do they want to be held? Are they gassy or in an uncomfortable
position? If their basic needs are all met, check to see if it is their primary need:
mama’ s love. Hold them close, sing to them, rock them, let them nurse just
for comfort, even if they may not be hungry . According to Ayurveda, it is best for a newborn baby to be in the auric
field—the ener getic field exuding from the body—of their mother for the
first several weeks, no more than a couple feet away . You are their entire
world—their comfort and their home. Your voice is soothing, your smell is
inviting. They do not know a world without your heartbeat close by . It
soothes their nervous system and quite literally stabilizes their breath to feel
your warmth. Use this time to be with your little one. Do not be rigid about
eating and sleeping schedules or other “shoulds.” Simply get to know your
little angel, and allow your rhythms to ebb and flow as you discover
yourselves, together . BASIC NEEDS
When tending to your little one’ s basic needs, be as present with them as
possible. When you are caring for them in these necessary ways, whether itbe changing their diaper , bathing, or feeding them, of fer them your full
attention so that they know that they are worthy of deep love and care. Here are some details pertaining to caring for your baby’ s basic needs:
Diaper changes. A baby will be uncomfortable sitting in a poopy
diaper , and a dirty diaper may cause a diaper rash, so change your
little one’ s diaper right after they are finished pooping. If you are
using a disposable diaper , most of them have an absorbent quality
that pulls the wetness away from their skin, so it will not feel
uncomfortable if the baby is in the diaper for a while after peeing;
generally they can pee two to four times in a disposable diaper
before they need a change. If you are using cloth diapers, the baby
will likely be uncomfortable after peeing just once because they will
feel the wetness. I suggest using cloth diapers as often as possible,
especially as your little one gets older , to reduce waste and expense. We used mostly disposable in the early days, as it invited more ease
to our early postpartum rhythm, but then we switched to using one
cloth diaper per day , then two, before switching over completely . Temperature regulation. The traditional advice used to be that
parents should check the baby’ s hands and feet to see if they are
cold. The recommendation now , however , is to feel the temperature
of their chest—if the skin there is cold, they are too chilly and need
some warmth. If their chest is hot, they need to cool down. A rule of
thumb is for your baby to be wearing one more layer than you are,
as they are likely to feel cold in the first few weeks of life (since they
are used to the warmth of your womb). An infant cannot regulate
their own body temperature until they are several months old, so it is
dangerous for them to overheat. If they are sweating, they are too
hot and probably uncomfortable. Skin-to-skin contact is a great way
to regulate your baby’ s body temperature if they are hot, cold, or
have a fever . Let them rest on your bare chest and their temperature
will quickly regulate to match yours.Nourishment. Better than creating feeding schedules and tracking
your newborn’ s eating times is to learn your baby’ s cues for when
they are hungry , and feed them when they cue you. If your newborn
is crying and upset, hunger is one of the first things to check. Among
the many hunger cues that the baby may give (moving around,
looking around, opening their mouth and moving their head around,
licking their lips, reaching for you, and so on), crying is the last one. Ayurveda recommends at least two hours between feedings so that
the milk has time to fully digest in your babe’ s stomach. However , in
the newborn stage, please do not worry too much about timing, as
every child’ s needs are dif ferent—you can feed them more often if
they are hungrier or less often if they are sleeping (you do not have
to wake them up to eat). During growth spurts—which happen
roughly at three days, five days, ten days, three weeks, five weeks—
your baby may “cluster feed,” meaning that they continuously nurse
on and of f for what could be hours at a time. As they are constantly
growing (and quickly), their schedule yesterday may be completely
different from what they need today . Sleep. Newborns sleep a lot. They need sleep to support the rapid
growth that is happening in the first few months of life. Especially
during growth spurts, they may need to sleep more, or their sleep
schedules may change completely . Every time I thought I had figured
out my baby’ s schedule in the first few months, it would change a
few days later . Try not to get attached to a nap schedule or sleep
schedule. Let them sleep when they are tired and wake up when
they feel rested. You can help them to fall asleep by nursing them to
sleep, walking them around, holding them to your chest while
bouncing on a birthing ball, rocking in a rocking chair , walking around
with them in a baby carrier , or swaddling them. Swaddling helps your
little one to feel contained, similar to when they were in the womb. It
brings in the warm and stable elements, helping to pacify vatadosha. Making the shhhhhh  sound over and over again is also
soothing to them, as the sound reminds them of being in the womb. DUNSTAN BABY LANGUAGE
In June 1998, an Australian opera singer named Priscilla Dunstan gave birth
to her first child and her keen ear quickly noticed five distinct sounds to her
baby’ s cries. Pursuing Dunstan’ s resulting theory , that infants use these five
vocal sounds to communicate before learning how to speak, researchers
eventually observed over four hundred babies of varied ethnicities and
backgrounds to verify her claim that these sounds are vocal reflexes used to
communicate dif ferent needs. Listen carefully to a baby’ s cries and you will
be able to distinguish what it is they are asking for . My husband and I found
this especially useful, so I share it here with you:
Neh (I am hungry). Babies make the sound reflex neh to
communicate hunger . The sound is produced when the sucking
reflex is triggered, and the tongue is pushed up on the roof of the
mouth. Owh (I’m sleepy). An infant uses the sound reflex owh to
communicate that they are tired. The sound is produced much like
an audible yawn. Heh (I’m experiencing discomfort). A baby uses the sound reflex
heh to communicate stress or discomfort—perhaps that it needs a
fresh diaper or a change of position. The sound is produced by a
response to a skin reflex, such as feeling sweat or itchiness in the
bum. Eairh (I have lower gas). An infant uses the sound reflex eairh  to
communicate they have flatulence or an upset stomach. The sound
is produced when trapped air from a belch travels to the stomach,
where the muscles of the intestines tighten to force the air bubble
out. Often, this sound will indicate that a bowel movement is inprogress, and the infant will bend its knees, bringing the legs toward
the torso. This leg movement assists in the elimination process. Eh (I need to be burped). An infant uses the sound reflex eh to
communicate that a large bubble of air is trapped in the chest, and
the reflex is trying to help release the air bubble out of the mouth. NEWBORN ESSENTIALS
The following list of baby essentials (which doesn’ t include the obvious
diapers and wipes) are things I got the most use out of when my baby was a
newborn (that is, in the first three months or more) and would highly
recommend for any new mama. Disposable and washable organic bamboo breast pads. Reusable breast pads are great for the first couple of weeks
postpartum. W ear disposable pads at night, as the reusable ones
may soak through after a couple of hours and waking up in the
middle of the night with a milk-soaked bed is no fun! For the reusable
ones, I found bamboo to be the softest and they did not make my
nipples itch like some of the cotton ones with seams down the
middle. Haakaa breast pump. This pump attaches to your breasts easily
and lets you express milk naturally through suction. You can put it on
the breast that babe is not feeding from to catch the extra milk that
comes out. Muslin cotton swaddle blankets. Even if you do not swaddle your
babe, these light cotton blankets are cozy and are the perfect small
blanket for use in the house or while traveling (even if just in the
stroller or car seat!). Burp cloths. Keep these by your bed, near your nursing station, in
the diaper bag, and in any common area around your house. Burpcloths are great not only for catching spit-up but also to catch any
leaking breast milk while nursing! Soft, light, bamboo pajamas for baby . Organic cotton is lovely , but
there is something even lovelier about a newborn in buttery soft
bamboo footie pajamas! The light fabric feels nice on their skin and
can end up being what little babe wears for the first six to eight
weeks of their life, if they wear anything at all! Boppy nursing pillow . This will save your back while nursing! Even
when not nursing, I would use this for my baby to sleep on me
without having to use my arms to hold him. It can also be used to
prop your newborn up after nursing if they are spitting up quite a bit. And finally , these pillows are useful when baby starts to sit up on
their own but needs a little assistance not to fall over . Tip: Get an
extra cover for laundry day . Baby carriers and wraps. You will get great use out of hands-free
carriers once you start moving around the house more. Baby will
benefit from being close to mama’ s heartbeat for as long as possible
and as often as possible. Again, Ayurveda says a baby should not
leave the mother ’s auric field for at least the first six weeks, so this is
a great way to keep them close. Diaper changing pads. You will likely want some portable diaper
changing pads, a plastic foldable one, and some cloth washable
ones (three or four). Changing pads are great to keep next to your
bed or your baby’ s sleeping space during the first few weeks for
midnight diaper changes. And remember to store one in your diaper
bag for on-the-go changes for months to come! Baby lounger . Baby will feel so cozy napping in this little pillow
anywhere around the house in the first several months. It can also
be used as a cosleeper in your bed.Baby bathtub. This can be placed right in your bathtub or sink and
can be used from the first bath to the hundredth! Washable incontinence pads. Get two to four of these and put
them on your mattress under your sheets where you sleep. From
postpartum bleeding, baby poop explosions, leaky pee diapers, and
puddles of breast milk, these will save your mattress. Bedside basket. Get a nice basket and place it next to your bed so
that is easy to access without you having to get up when the baby is
with you. In the basket put everything you might need for you and
your little one—diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, waterproof
changing pads, a few onesies, and anything else that you will be
using frequently . IS THAT NORMAL? During the early days of motherhood, you will likely find yourself repeating
the phrase “Is that normal?” for just about everything. Of course, always go with your intuition, and when in doubt, ask for
guidance. Call your midwives, your doctors, your pediatrician, your doula,
your lactation consultant, your mom, your mom friends, or anyone you can
get advice from. It is always better to be safe than sorry and it eases worry
to hear “Y es, that is normal” when you are feeling nervous. Here is a list of questions that may come up, and I can assure you: “Y es,
that is normal.”
“Why is her heart beating so fast? Is that normal?”  Babies’  tiny
hearts beat faster than ours. They commonly beat around 120 beats
per minute, which will sound and feel very fast to you. It is normal. “He keeps forgetting to take a breath! Is that normal?”  After
being accustomed to life in the womb, babies need time to learn how
to breathe. They can sometimes forget to take a breath, for up to ten
seconds. If you are noticing this frequently , keep them close to youor even on you, so that hearing your breathing reminds them to take
a breath. If the suspension of breath is longer than ten seconds at a
time, call your pediatrician. Otherwise, it is likely to be normal. “Sometimes she snores in her sleep. Is that normal?”  Babies
have tiny noses. Sometimes they snore until they grow out of it a
month or so after birth. If the snoring seems concerning to you,
contact your pediatrician. If it is just due to their tiny nose, they will
grow out of it—it is normal. “My newborn’ s poop was black and sticky for several days and
now it’ s watery and yellow! It looks like diarrhea!”  The first few
poops after birth will be a black, sticky , tar-like substance called
meconium. This can pass within a few hours, days, or within the first
week or so. After that, the poop will gradually become a yellowish
waterier substance that may be a little mucousy . A breastfed baby
may have poop that looks like it could be diarrhea, but it is just the
normal consistency of baby poop. In fact, for a breastfed baby ,
yellow liquidy poop is healthy! “She keeps throwing up all the time! Is that normal?”  Spitting up
and throwing up are two dif ferent things for babies. If your baby is
regurgitating milk or even what looks like curdled milk after eating,
this is spitting up and is likely to be normal. If they are projectile
vomiting (the milk comes out forcefully in a straight line out of their
mouth), call the pediatrician. See this page  on “Spitting up (in
Breastfed Babies)” for more info on this. “He is constantly drinking milk! I feel like I am nursing all day
long! Is that normal?”  Newborn breastfed babies will drink milk
every two or three hours—sometimes more, sometimes less. During
the typical growth spurts—at three days, five days, seven days, three
weeks, and five weeks of age—which can last anywhere from one
day to several days, they may do what is called cluster feeding. Cluster feeding means they nurse constantly on and of f for hours ata time. This is normal and natural, and if your baby wants to cluster
feed, cozy up with a good book to pass the time. They will benefit
from the nourishment of the extra milk, so best to allow them to eat
when they are hungry and stop when they are full. “His skin is peeling. Is that normal?”  Newborn babies’  skin goes
through a lot in the first few weeks. Peeling is a normal occurrence,
as their skin is used to the watery womb, and our world in
comparison is dry and cold. Starting with baby abhyangas after the
umbilical cord falls of f may help with peeling skin. However , it is
nothing to be concerned about and is totally normal. “Her poop is green!”  Yes, green poop is normal for babies! Their
digestion may simply be adjusting to changes in your diet or they
may be teething. In fact, almost all colors of poop can be normal for
newborns. In general, the only color to call your doctor about would
be white poop. “She has blood in her diaper! Is she okay? !”  Sometimes female
infants will get what looks like a mini period in their diaper . It will
probably only show up once or twice. This is normal spotting of blood
due to the hormones in mama’ s milk and not a cause for concern. If
it lasts more than a few days, call your doctor to be sure. BABY BATH TIME
When your baby is first born, you may notice a whitish, waxy coating on
their skin—a protective layer called vernix. In a hospital setting, the
standard practice is to wash this coating of f. Ayurveda advises to leave the
vernix rather than washing it, and instead to massage it gently into the
baby’ s skin until it is absorbed. This natural external barrier has many
benefits including protecting the baby from pathogens, regulating their
body temperature, keeping their skin moisturized, and balancing their pH. According to Ayurveda, a newborn baby can have an herbal bath any
time after birth. The herbs can be the same ones that mama uses for herherbal baths. Fill the bath with lukewarm water , or water just warmer than
body temperature. When you add the boiling water from the herbal
infusion, wait for the bath to cool before putting your baby in. Remember
that their skin is very sensitive and if it feels hot at all to you, it will feel
extra hot to them. The bath given immediately after birth is considered more of a ritual
than a wash to clean them of f. A bath can be calming for your baby and
allow them a smooth transition out of the watery womb and into the world. Once the bath is prepared with the herbal infusion and cooled to the right
temperature, you can slowly lower your baby into the water feet first. You
can hold your baby face up with one hand under their head and neck and the
other hand under their bottom and allow them to float on their back in the
water . Your baby should appear warm and relaxed; they may uncurl their
arms and legs and reach out into the water . Assure that their feet are always
contacting a boundary , whether it is your body or the edge of the bathtub. They are used to the boundary of being in your womb, so too much space or
vastness can feel overwhelming—and even scary—to them. The best practice for a newborn bath is to keep the baby’ s umbilical
cord out of the water , and just allow your newborn to float on their back on
top of the water—the usual Ayurvedic recommendation is to wait until the
umbilical cord falls of f to give baby a full bath. However , a floaty herbal
bath can be a sweet, relaxing welcome into the world for your baby . The
herbs have the added benefit of being antibacterial and soothing to the skin. If the cord does get wet, simply dry it after the bath and apply powdered
goldenseal to the umbilical area to dry and help it heal. After a baby’ s welcome bath, it is not necessary or recommended to
bathe them again until the umbilical cord falls of f naturally . Optimally , the
umbilical cord will simply dry up and fall of f on its own without any
intervention. Make sure to use diapers small enough that they do not cover
the umbilical cord. Powdered goldenseal applied gently around the belly
button with a Q-tip once a day will aid drying and healing and help prevent
infection. Until the cord falls of f, you can wash the baby with a warm,
clean, damp washcloth or sponge if needed, but often a baby does not needto be washed at all. After the umbilical cord is gone, you can begin to bathe
the baby once every day or every couple of days in lukewarm water after a
massage (see the next section). BABY MASSAGE
A baby massage is a traditional practice that supports the health of a baby
and allows for deep bonding with the parents. The Ayurvedic
recommendation is to start baby massage after the umbilical cord falls of f
and to continue daily for at least the first year of the baby’ s life. BENEFITS OF BABY  MASSAGE
Activates important bonding hormones between parent and baby
Promotes healthy and nourished skin
Boosts baby’ s weight gain
Prevents bacterial infections
Increases circulation of the blood and the lymphatic system
Drains toxins from the body
Strengthens the immune system
Supports digestion and bowel movements
Helps with sound sleep
Strengthens limbs and joints
Soothes the nervous system
Pacifies excess vata dosha
TIPS FOR AN AYUR VEDIC BABY  ABHY ANGA
Use organic oils only (conventional oils have many pesticides).Use sesame oil in general. Use sunflower or coconut oil if your baby
is prone to overheating or rashes. Use the palms of your hands and closed fingers instead of finger tips
in order to calm your baby , rather than stimulate them. Take cues from your babe. If they are not enjoying the massage, you
can stop or change your methods. They should appear calm or
happy and not be upset with abhyanga. On that same note, always ask permission to give the massage. You
can ask by showing them your hands with the oil on it so they know
the massage is coming, and wait for their positive response before
moving forward. This is important even from birth—it teaches them
respect for their bodies and expectations for safe touch. Be sure that the pressure of the massage is moderate: not so light
that it tickles or so deep that it hurts. Only massage after basic needs (feeding and diapering) have been
met, and wait thirty minutes after a feeding. Massage from the heart outward down the limbs. Do not massage if the umbilical cord has not fallen of f yet, if the baby
is sleeping, if it’ s very soon after feeding, if baby is giving negative
cues (for example, crying or fussing), or if the baby is ill, congested,
or has a fever . Choose a song to sing during the massage. As soon as you start to sing, your
little hunny may light up, as they begin to understand that this certain song
means massage time. One of the most important parts of baby massage is transmitting love
through your hands, which means being totally and completely present with
your baby during this time. 1.Warm the oil first in your hands or place the oil bottle in hot
water for a few moments.2.Place little babe somewhere cozy and make sure the room is
warm. Be sure to place a sheet or towel underneath, as things
are about to get oily! 3.Gently begin by applying oil to the baby’ s scalp, rubbing their
head in circular motions with your palms. 4.Massage from the baby’ s heart down the arms and then the
legs. Use long strokes down the limbs, and circles around the
joints—making sure to really rub the oil into baby’ s tissues. 5.Massage baby’ s abdomen in a large clockwise motion, using a
gentle touch with little to no pressure. 6.Turn your baby onto their belly or side, and massage their back
and bum. 7.Let baby soak in the oily goodness for ten or twenty minutes. Make sure your little one stays warm! 8.Bath time! Ayurvedic Baby Soap
Ayurveda recommends using a soap made from the following recipe
for the first year of your baby’ s life. (Y ou can also use this soap
yourself after abhyanga massages!) This homemade liquid cleanser
is gentle on the skin and removes excess oil without being drying. No other commercial soap is necessary for your little one. Ingredients
1 tablespoon chickpea flour
½ teaspoon sandalwood powder
½ teaspoon rose water⅓ cup milk (can substitute milk with coconut milk or water in vegan
households)
Instructions
In a small saucepan, mix the chickpea flour and sandalwood with
enough milk to form a paste. Mix well and then add the rest of the
milk. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. When the mixture begins to bubble and thicken, it is ready . Make
sure the soap has cooled before applying it to your babe’ s skin. Since it is made with milk, this soap should be made fresh before
each bath. COMMON NEWBORN
CHALLENGES
If your babe is experiencing an imbalance in the newborn phase, it may be a
result of mama having an imbalance. Mothers and babies are so intrinsically
connected in those early days that the health of the mother directly af fects
the health of the baby . Not only your diet but also your mind and emotions
affect your little one. As Ayurveda emphasizes, most imbalances and
disease in the body and mind can be treated with diet and lifestyle alone—
so Ayurveda recommends evaluating mama’ s diet and lifestyle, as well as
the ener gy in the environment that is surrounding mama and little babe,
before treating baby . Please be assured, however , that sometimes babies have minor
imbalances that are not due to mama’ s diet and mood. My little one got a
heat rash a few days after his birth. At the same time, he had really wet,
yellow poop. These are usually obvious signs that there is too much heat in
the body , so my husband and I both felt an ur gency to lower the baby’ s
pitta. I felt added pressure to make sure I was not eating too many heating
spices, along with guilt that something I was doing (or not doing) could beharming my babe. Every time I ate, I would be worried that it would af fect
him negatively . Feeling like I could be the cause of his suf fering due to my
diet or emotions did not feel good! Then our midwife came for a home visit,
looked at his poop, and laughed: “That is what normal baby poop looks
like!” She also told us our house felt way too warm and to open the
windows to allow some cooler air in—oh, okay , so simple! The following is a list of what might arise in your newborn days, and
Ayurveda’ s approach to what to do if they do. COLIC
Colic is not a diagnosis but rather a description of symptoms. When a baby
is “colicky” they usually exhibit a combination of fussing, crying (for hours
at a time), and gassiness. If little babe curls their legs into their chest, turns
bright red with tense limbs, and cries inconsolably , your baby may be
experiencing the abdominal pain associated with colic. According to Western medical science, colic is something that just
happens sometimes with no apparent cause. According to Ayurveda, the
cause of colic in a breastfed newborn is the diet of the nursing mama. Colic
takes three weeks or more to manifest with symptoms, after poor eating
habits have accumulated. Before colic manifests, you will see symptoms of
gassiness in your little one; if mama’ s diet is not altered, after several
weeks, you may have a colicky baby . Often when certain foods are removed
from the nursing mama’ s diet, the baby’ s symptoms improve. Common
foods that cause colic include wheat, dairy , soy, and peanuts—but really any
food that mama is unable to digest properly will af fect the quality of her
breast milk and thus disrupt her little one’ s tummy (hence the importance of
slowly rekindling mama’ s digestive fire with proper foods after giving birth,
as taught in the next chapter). Caf feine, chocolate, cruciferous vegetables,
onions, and raw garlic are among the other foods Ayurveda recommends
removing from mama’ s diet. In general, make sure mama’ s digestion is
balanced and that she is able to digest her food ef ficiently without feeling
gassy or bloated. (See the food guidelines in chapter 8 for supporting mamaand babe.) Once you put these changes in place, your babe may take a few
days to a week to show significant progress, but it will come. Most of the time, colic will disappear on its own as the baby’ s digestive
system matures (around four months old), though watching your little one
in extreme discomfort or pain can be heartbreaking, and trying to care for a
colicky newborn can be exhausting. Below are some other remedies that
may help. If symptoms persist, consult a lactation specialist or pediatrician. REMEDIES FOR COLIC
Empty one breast at a time when breastfeeding. Your baby may
be getting too much lactose in the foremilk and not enough fatty
hindmilk. Make sure the baby is nursing on one side until the breast
is fully empty before switching to the other side. Herbal teas for mama. Make a tea with any combination of
caraway , cumin seeds, chamomile, catnip, fennel, dill, or anise to sip
on while the baby is nursing. The herbal remedy will transfer to your
breast milk and ease your baby’ s digestive system. Herbal tea for babe. Fennel seed or dill seed tea is helpful for
relieving gas and intestinal cramping. This can be given directly to
the baby . Bring 1 teaspoon of seeds to boil in 1 cup of water; steep
and strain. A few drops may be all that is needed, but a small bottle
is fine if your baby wants more. The colic hold. Lay your baby with their belly across your forearm
and your hand supporting their head and chest. Keep the baby’ s
head slightly higher than their feet. This may relieve some of their
discomfort. Burping. Burp the baby with gentle pats on the back after every
feeding to reduce gas buildup in your little one’ s stomach. Take a warm herbal bath together . Make an infusion with
chamomile and lavender and add it to your bath water . Hold yourbaby to your chest for skin-to-skin contact while relaxing in the warm
water . Baby abhyanga. When your newborn is relaxed and calm but not
asleep, gently massage the baby and rub sesame oil in clockwise
circular motions around their belly using your first two fingers with
gentle pressure. Eliminate stimulating substances. When mamas smoke or
consume caf feine, the stimulant can pass through breast milk and
lead to colic. Add probiotics to your diet. Add yogurt, kefir , or lactobacillus
capsules to your diet. Essential oils. Put a few drops of chamomile, fennel, or lavender
essential oils in warm water , soak a washcloth in the water , squeeze
it out, and then wrap it gently around your baby’ s abdomen. Homeopathic treatment. Colic Calm is a homeopathic remedy
found in most pharmacies. I highly recommend having a bottle of this
at home just in case it is ever needed. It eases babies’  discomfort
almost immediately . CONSTIPATION
A breastfed newborn will generally poop daily , if not several times a day . According to Western medicine, it is normal for your baby to start going
several days without any bowel movements after six weeks of age, and as
long as there is no pain or cramping associated with the constipation, baby
will eventually have a soft bowel movement and all will be fine. However ,
according to Ayurveda, everyone—including infants!—should have bowel
movements at least once per day and anything less than that is considered
constipation. Again, as long as your baby is not uncomfortable or in pain, mild
constipation is common and nothing to be concerned about, but if you wantto help get your baby’ s bowels moving, Ayurveda recommends changing
your diet to include more warm, oily , watery foods—specifically focusing
on stewed fruits (recipe on this page ) for breakfast each morning until baby
starts pooping daily . You can also drink warmed prune juice so that baby
receives those benefits while nursing or put a little bit of ghee on your
nipple for your baby to ingest while nursing. Another Ayurvedic folk
remedy is soaking a Q-tip in olive oil or ghee and gently inserting it a
quarter -inch into your baby’ s anus. They should have a bowel movement
shortly after! If you are concerned that your baby is in any discomfort or
pain from constipation, always consult with your pediatrician or midwives. SLEEP “SCHEDULES”
A newborn baby’ s sleep pattern does not seem to have much rhyme or
reason. Keep in mind that just about any schedule your baby has for
sleeping is probably normal: They can sleep all night and all day . They can
sleep all day and be awake all night. They can sleep all night and be awake
all day . They are adjusting to the rhythmic patterns of day and night, and
that takes time. Furthermore, they need a lot of sleep to continue growing. Remember that newborns will go through growth spurts every several days
for several weeks and then every several weeks for several months. All the
growing that their brains and bodies are doing is exhausting! As a general rule of thumb, a baby’ s “wake window” (the time that they
can tolerate being awake between naps or before bed) will start small and
gradually increase over time. After the first few months, you will likely start
to see a rhythm regarding what time baby wakes up for the day , when their
first nap is, how much time they can be awake before the next nap, and
what time they generally fall asleep for the night. As their wake windows
naturally increase, the number of naps they take each day will decrease. Rest when the baby sleeps so that you can care for them when they are
awake. If they are tired, let them sleep. If they are awake all night, try not to
get overwhelmed; their schedules are changing from day to day and it is
only temporary . If you are exhausted and need to rest, ask for help! You canonly care for your baby if you are in good health. If you are confused about
their sleep schedules and nap times, talk to other moms in your community;
they will all have advice for you. As you will learn, every baby is dif ferent,
and you will get to learn your own baby’ s patterns and schedules over time. That being said, if you are struggling with sleep deprivation, you do not
have to suf fer through it silently . In the early days, there is not much you
can do about adjusting a baby’ s schedule, but you can ask other adults for
support. Take turns with your support people, whether that would be your
partner , family members, friends, or doula, and ask them to care for your
baby while you rest. After your baby is a few months old, you can adjust
their sleep and feeding schedules to become more regular so that you (and
they!) can sleep for longer stretches of time. And of course, if you feel that
something is wrong, always follow your intuition and consult your care
providers. THINGS THA T SUPPORT RESTFUL  SLEEP
Drink your hot milk tonic each night! Diffuse lavender or roman chamomile essential oil. Use a sound machine in baby’ s room. Use a weighted blanket or weighted onesie that is appropriate to
your baby’ s weight. Swaddle your baby to help calm their dispersed energy if you notice
their hands are flailing and their breath is fast. Swaddling will also
keep them from waking themselves up. Give baby a massage and bath before bedtime. Make the baby’ s sleeping area as dark as possible, and during their
waking time, let it be light. This helps them to adjust to the time of
day.SPITTING UP (IN BREASTFED BABIES)
Spitting up—several times a day—is a common occurrence for a newborn
in the early days. Projectile vomiting, however , can be a cause for concern
and is a reason to call your pediatrician. One common reason for spitting up
is reflux—when the baby’ s stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. Reflux is something that should be diagnosed by your pediatrician. Supplementing breast milk with formula or feeding your baby cereal mixed
with breast milk is often recommended by Western medical practitioners,
though studies have shown that neither of these treatments improve reflux;
in fact, they may even worsen it. In some cases, making changes to your
diet may help the baby’ s symptoms. Reducing dairy and following the other
Ayurvedic postpartum diet recommendations in chapter 8 is a good place to
start. Another common reason for spitting up is an oversupply of milk or a
fast letdown (when your milk is released forcefully). When your baby is
still only a few days or weeks old, they may not be able to handle the
amount of milk that is coming down if you have an abundant supply . Too
much milk volume can lead to your baby nursing less or for shorter periods
of time, turning away from the breast as a source of comfort, or refusing to
nurse at all, so try to resolve an oversupply issue early . As with all
breastfeeding concerns, it is best to consult a lactation specialist who can
determine your personal situation and provide the best and easiest solutions. If your newborn is spitting up due to oversupply , you may see some
corresponding signs from them:
struggling at the breast
choking with milk letdown
spitting up a lot of milk
having green, frothy stools
nursing for short periods of timepulling of f the breast soon after letdown
having bouts of unexplained crying
not settling into a feed
For solutions, pay attention to the following details:
Baby’ s latch. A good latch will help your baby control the flow of
milk. (Support from a lactation consultant can help you learn how to
improve your child’ s latch.) Baby’ s position. Try having your baby’ s head higher than your
breast. Patterns of nursing. Switching breasts too quickly can lead to baby
getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk. Try allowing a
longer time for feeding on each breast before switching, or of fer the
same breast for a few feedings in a row . Burping. For some moms, the solution is as simple as remembering
to burp the baby after every single feed and between switching
breasts. Frequency of feedings. If your baby is going too long between
feedings, they may be overly hungry and try to drink quickly . Watch
for and learn your baby’ s early signs of hunger , such as eye
movements, small sounds, and body movements. Draining the breasts. Empty one breast at a time at each feeding. This will regulate the supply of milk. Do not pump extra milk,
because it will cause your breasts to fill quickly again. Herbal supplements. If you are taking herbs to increase milk
supply , stop—and that may help solve the issue. Some herbs—
including peppermint, sage, and parsley—are considered
antigalactogogues (they decrease milk supply). Making these herbs
into a tea may help in reducing milk supply .Oversupply can cause a mama to have sore nipples, plugged ducts,
mastitis, thrush, or breast pain. If you have tried all the above solutions and
nothing seems to be working, I recommend consulting a specialist. Your
baby’ s symptoms of oversupply can also be signs of low supply , but you
can usually tell the dif ference by whether the baby is gaining appropriate
weight or not. Breastfeeding issues can sometimes be solved by simple
changes that you may not be aware of, so experts can be a tremendous help. NEWBORN SKIN: CRADLE CAP, DIAPER RASH,
AND HEAT RASH
Within the first couple of weeks after birth, your newborn’ s skin may go
through several dif ferent changes as they adjust to life outside of the watery
womb. Some skin rashes and conditions are normal, and some may be
uncomfortable or irritating for your baby . You may see “stork bites” (red dots on the back of the baby’ s neck or
between their eyebrows), dry or peeling skin, baby acne, milia (little white
bumps on the cheeks), or swelling in the baby’ s face (from the birth
experience) that will go down within a couple of days. All this is normal. Other common occurrences that may arise are cradle cap, diaper rash,
and heat rash. Although these are mostly harmless, they can be irritating or
uncomfortable for your babe, and of course, as a mama, you will want to
help your baby be as comfortable as possible. Neem-infused ghee is a great
Ayurvedic remedy for baby rashes, baby acne, and peeling skin. The
resources section at the back of this book has suggestions on where to order
some. Cradle cap is a yellowish crust that can sometimes appear on a baby’ s
scalp, forehead, or eyebrows. It does not need treatment and will go away
on its own eventually , but if you want to remove it you can gently massage
the area with ghee or coconut oil and allow it to soak into the skin
overnight. Optionally , you can add essential oils of lavender , frankincense,
or tea tree (or a combination). In the morning, the skin with cradle cap will
be soft, and you can gently pick of f the crust and comb or brush it out of thebaby’ s hair with a baby brush. Be gentle when picking the crust of f, as
baby’ s heads are delicate. The cradle cap should come of f almost
effortlessly and not break the skin or disturb your babe at all. A red, sore rash on a baby’ s bottom, known as diaper rash, occurs for
several reasons. Sometimes baby has a skin sensitivity to chemicals in
wipes or disposable diapers. Or they could be having a reaction to the
deter gent used to wash their cloth diapers. Often, rashes are caused by
sitting in a dirty or wet diaper for too long (even a short time if their skin is
sensitive). Other causes are yeast infection, reaction to antibiotics, or a
reaction to the nursing mama’ s diet. To prevent diaper rash, or to help
remedy it if necessary , the following approaches can help:
Elimination communication. Watch your baby’ s cues for when they
have to pee or poop, and take them to use the toilet (from birth!) instead of using diapers. Eliminating diapers would, of course,
eliminate diaper rash. Daily abhyanga massage. Nightly baby massages with sesame oil,
followed by using coconut oil where the rash is, will often soothe and
heal diaper rash quickly . A combination of lavender and tea tree
essential oil mixed into the coconut oil is also soothing and healing
for your baby’ s skin. Soaking up sunlight. Lay your naked baby in some indirect sunlight
daily. Hygiene awareness. Use the cleanest diapers, wipes, soaps, and
detergents: unfortunately , commercial baby products can sometimes
have highly harmful chemicals in them. Do your research to choose
high-quality body products or laundry soaps for your baby . Avoid
Vaseline as well as fragranced soaps, detergents, shampoos, diaper
creams, and talc powders. Change soiled diapers immediately . If you spend a lot of time with
your baby , you will always notice when they poop. Change theirdiaper right after they are finished. You may want to wait about ten
minutes from when you first notice them pooping to make sure they
are fully finished, then put the baby in a fresh diaper right away . If
your baby has sensitive skin, you may also want to use a dry cloth
and pat the bum dry after a cleanup, to make sure baby is
completely dry before putting on a new diaper . Change your diet. Think about whether the diaper rash might have
appeared when you introduced a specific food into your diet, and try
eliminating it to see if the rash goes away . Diaper rashes resulting
from diet will be accompanied by a red or irritated anus on your
baby . If diaper rash persists, you might be dealing with a yeast infection. Susun
Weed’s Wise W oman Herbal for the Childbearing Y ear discusses yeast
infection diaper rashes and how to treat them with home remedies. Another type of rash that is not uncommon in newborns is a heat rash. A
heat rash can be identified when you see tiny pink bumps, mainly on the
neck, chest, and upper back. Babies can experience heat rash anytime they
are overheating, whether from the temperature in the house, from the
temperature outdoors, or simply from being overdressed. Ayurveda adds the
perspective of heat rashes being a sign of excess pitta (fire) in the body ,
which could not only be an ef fect of the temperature but also an ef fect of
the nursing mama’ s diet and emotions. Eating spicy foods or foods that
contain too many warming spices could cause excess heat, as well as a
mama’ s emotions “heating up” through anger , frustration, irritability , or
resentment. Heat rashes, as in all pitta imbalances, simply need to be cooled. Sometimes all it takes is applying a cool washcloth to the skin or turning on
the air conditioning in the house. If heat rash is more serious, mama may
need to change her diet—especially avoiding spicy foods or foods that have
too many warming spices—in order to see improvement. Some other
Ayurvedic solutions you can try to remedy heat rash include these:Give baby a lukewarm bath using the Ayurvedic baby soap recipe on
this page . Chickpea flour , sandalwood, rose, and milk are all cooling to the
skin. Use the essential oil solutions described in chapter 9. Drink cooling teas or infused waters made with things like cucumber ,
watermelon, fennel, hibiscus, or rose. Drink fresh coconut water . Gosh…the ways I love you. It actually , literally hurts my heart. And sometimes it’ s scary to love this much. You were in bed crying the other afternoon. I was exhausted, dizzy , and lying next to you. “Please just close your eyes.”
“Go to sleep, you can do it on your own”
…even though you’ve only ever done that once since you were
a newborn,
and you’ve only ever known to fall asleep in our arms. I felt frustrated with you, for the very first time. I got up, bounced you on the ball, and you fell asleep almost
immediately . And then the first wave of guilt I’ve felt as a mama. “He needed me, and I let him cry .”
Tears rolled down my face as I looked at my little man. “I love him too much,” I thought,
and it didn’t feel safe. The same feeling that has come up for me in all my
relationships. Because to love too much means that
eventually
I’ll get hurt.Though with this wave
it was the acute awareness of time
and how time washes away everything that we love in this
material world. That one day I won’t be here,
I’ll have to leave him. I won’t be able to take care of him
or to love him. Or worse,
the f*ed-up reality that sometimes our children leave us too
early . I feel so sad about that
and so angry about the way this world is set up
and so frustrated that we learn how to love here,
but then are forced to let go. And hopefully
rather than protecting my heart and limiting my experience of
love,
that realization can urge me to love much more deeply ,
in every moment
that we’re here. Because time passes
and nothing here
lasts. You’re a little heart doctor , my angel. And you’re teaching me how to love. Because with you,
the walls that I’ve built to protect my own heart
become so clear . I might blame you
or get frustrated with you for a moment,before realizing
you just need  me…
and my inability to show up for you
makes me frustrated. My idea of what you should  be doing (but aren’t)
makes me frustrated. What do you need, my angel? How can I show up for you?
_OceanofPDF.com_Ayurveda_Mama_A_Complete_Guide_-_Dhyana_Masla.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        of your days. As with all close and conscious
relationships, the relationship between you and your little one refines you. It
will stretch you to become patient by giving you opportunities to practice
patience; to become more loving not because you want to be, but because
any other response will leave you more frustrated; to see all the patterns of
reaction that you have learned throughout your life and to exercise your
ability to respond with more kindness, more awareness, and more love. It is important to mother purposefully, with intention and love, rather
than acting and reacting from an unconscious place. Your actions in the first
years are being soaked up by your little one’ s psyche and forming their
views of themselves and the world around them. They are learning in every
interaction: Am I worthy of love. Can I give love freely. Is it okay to ask
for what I need. Will my needs be met. Am I safe. Is the world safe. According to Ayurveda, the element of ether is heightened in a baby. They are connected, tuned in; they feel everything. They can feel subtle
energy, and if you pay close attention, you will notice that they behave and
act dif ferently based on the subtleties of their environment. They feel if
there is hostility. They feel when your actions are coming from a place of
love or when they are coming from a place of anger, resentment, or
frustration. The underlying ener gy of all your actions instills foundational
beliefs within your little one, and therefore how they learn to interact with
the world. I remember when my little guy kept biting me when he first got his two
bottom teeth. Every few minutes while nursing he would chomp down on
my nipple. I started to feel frustrated, feeling like he was doing it on
purpose. From this frustrated place, I put him down on the bed, moved to
the other side of the bed, and turned my back to him. Suddenly, I realized what I was doing. Oh my God. I turned and looked at his little face and he looked stunned, studying my
own face to know how he should feel. My pattern throughout my life was to
close down and withdraw my love when I was hurt so that the other person
would know that they did something wrong. I probably did this with my
dad when I was young; I have done it with my husband; and now, there I
was, doing it to my little son. I learned it from my own mama, who I am
sure learned it from hers. I thought I had healed that pattern years ago through the work I had
done in my relationship with my husband. But here I was, being refined by
my little one, seeing the parts of me that still had not healed; the parts of me
that were still unable to love; the parts of me that were still triggered, and
thus attached to a story from my past; the part of me that needed to prove
something in order to love or be loved. And now I was unconsciously acting
out the same drama that would instill the same beliefs, and thus the same
patterns, into my little one. Wow. I noticed. I became aware. And that is the first step of all healing and transformation. First, check your ener gy. If I am frustrated with my baby when he is biting me and I put him
down to “teach him a lesson,” then tell him (from that frustrated place) that
what he did was not okay, he feels the frustration and also the guilt of doing
something “wrong. ” An infant not only feels guilt, but they connect all their
experiences to their value and worthiness as a person. Next, take a deep breath. I dropped into the boundless reservoir of love and compassion that God
has gifted mamas with. I looked at my little angel in that mood, and
immediately he softened and smiled. From a loving place, I let him know
that biting hurts mama, that it does not feel good. As I’m sure you have heard, it’ s not necessarily what  you do or what
you say, but more the ener gy that you do or say it with, that has the most
effect. It is not about not expressing what you need, or not putting him
down, but more importantly, how did you express your needs. How  did you
put him down. What was the ener gy behind  your actions. As that is what is
felt the most. Responding from a place of love and care creates a
completely dif ferent experience for your babe. Beneath every behavior is a feeling, and beneath every
feeling is a need. Rather than responding to a baby’ s
behavior, respond to their needs. What needs are they
expressing through  their actions. Do they need more
attention. More presence. Do they need to feel more
comfortable. When you meet their needs, you are
addressing the cause of their behavior, rather than
temporarily pacifying the symptoms. What are other, more ef fective ways to communicate with your little one
without making them feel ashamed about who they are, or guilty for what
they did. Again, your little one does not know that what they are doing is
causing harm. They do not know “right” from “wrong,” “good” from “bad. ”
They are simply experiencing the world from a deep state of being. Our
task at this time is to respond in such a way that allows them to feel safe
and to let them know, through our ener gy and actions, that they are
fundamentally cared for, valued, and worthy of love, no matter what. How then, do you create clear boundaries without limiting their self-
expression. What can you do instead of responding to your teething baby’ spain with more pain. Speaking practically, you can recognize their need to
bite on something and of fer your finger or a teething toy instead of nursing,
and then you can return to the nursing session later when they are not
hurting as much. Perhaps you can voice to them with a loving yet firm and
serious tone that “that hurts” and that you will not let them bite, and that
you will not give them milk when they bite. Your boundaries are important, and by no means do you have to suf fer
the pain of a biting baby while nursing. But instead of using punishment as
a form of teaching, there are constructive ways to create the boundaries that
you need while simultaneously letting the baby know that they can express
their  needs without being punished. The definition of discipline that Magda
Gerber, a renowned early childhood educator, shares in Dear Par ent:
Caring for Infants with Respect  is “training that develops self-control,
character. ” This is in line with the actual source of the word, the Latin root
disciplina,  which means “instruction” or “knowledge. ” So, discipline is
educating  our children so that they understand appropriate behavior, values,
and how to control their impulses—rather than punishment that makes the
child feel ashamed or “bad. ” By cultivating the perspective that your little
one is never trying to cause you stress, pain, or suf fering, you can respond
to them in a way that is respectful and clear, and in a way that models the
behavior you want them to learn. By expressing to them that it hurts when
they bite, they may learn how to express themselves when they are hurt in a
respectful way; when you provide them with an alternative relief for
teething, they may learn that they can count on you for support when they
need you. By being clear in your ener gy and intentional with your responses
—rather than becoming triggered and then responding unconsciously—you
support them in learning how to regulate their own emotions and create the
boundaries necessary for them (and you. ) to feel safe. You will feel much, much better as a mama when your actions come
from a place of responsiveness, compassion, presence, and care. You will
also notice that it is a much more ef fective way to teach your little one. You have to be so mindful as a mama, and simultaneously so gentle,
patient, and for giving toward yourself. Mamas tend to put so much pressureon themselves to be “perfect”; but you deserve just as much grace and
forgiveness as you are giving your child. You are learning. You will become
triggered at some point. It is an opportunity for your growth. And like any
spiritual endeavor, conscious motherhood is a practice. We are all conditioned by our past experiences—by the ways that our
parents dealt with us and the ways we have seen others being treated. We
are af fected by our friends, by the media, and by society. When you are a
new mother, many new things arise that you have never experienced before
and therefore may not know how to respond to in ways that are actually
supportive. Guilt is a common emotion among mamas, though rather than getting
stuck in it, know that it is there to show you what you value. The experience
of guilt makes it crystal clear when you have acted out of alignment with
what you care about, and thus it helps you self-correct the next time around. The important part is to be able to notice the way you reacted, to become
aware of the way in which you wish you showed up, and to keep refining. Children do not need a perfect mama. They need a mama who is genuine
and who is committed to the work of becoming better. Apologize to your
little one when you step out of line. Let them know that it wasn’ t okay how
you spoke to them, ignored them, or touched their body. Let them know that
it wasn’ t their fault and that there is nothing they could do to make you not
love them. Take responsibility for your actions so that they eventually learn
how to take responsibility for theirs. This repairing also supports your little
one, from the youngest of ages, to rewrite—or reintegrate—what happened
in a way that is supportive for their development. You are a newborn mama. You are learning how to love in the deepest and
most profound way possible. Swami Prabhupada would often say that the closest thing to God’ s love
that we can experience in this world is the love that a mother has for her
child. Experiencing this love from the inside out, from the heart of a mama,has revealed much to me about the way God loves us all. Wow, God loves
me without reason. There is nothing I could do to make Him not love me. There is no way that I could act that would make the Divine turn away from
me. I am not “good” or “bad” in His eyes. I am simply me, and that is
perfect. How can I become an instrument of that boundless, shoreless ocean
of love in my little one’ s life. In the Puranas, the Ultimate Mother is known as Sri Radha. Both the
Padma Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana elaborate on her pastimes of
love with Lord Krishna and reveal how the divine couple is the Source of
all that is. Sri Radha is the embodiment of love and compassion. You can
pray to her to become an instrument of divine, motherly grace: to know
how to love your little one without conditions. Mother Yasoda is Lord
Krishna’ s mother. You can pray to her for the wisdom of how to raise your
little one with devotional love. Goddess Bhumi is Mother Earth: the
epitome of generosity, care, nourishment, and reciprocation. You can honor
Mother Earth for being the perfect example of how to love no matter what. The ancient Vedic scriptures guide us toward living a life where we
intentionally support each other, respect the world, and honor God as the
source of all that is. When we show up in our relationships, of fering our
gifts without selfish motives, without the need for validation or recognition,
we will feel a deep satisfaction and fulfillment that might otherwise feel
elusive. While this may be hard to conceptualize, the living example of
millions of mothers gives us an insight into what selflessness really is. Devotional service is love expressed. I remember when I was learning to love my little one: the kind of love
that is beyond what I could feel, but rather a love that stemmed from
learning what he needed and how I could serve him. I remember the depth
of experience I began to move into as I took full responsibility of caring for
him, and the realization that the experience of love is deeply enhanced
through service. When you really love someone, you will naturally go out
of your way to make them feel happy, content, and at peace. It will give you
the greatest joy to see them joyful, and the greatest satisfaction to know
they are satisfied. My first experience of loving him was a knowing that there was nothing
I would not do to protect him. There is nothing I would not give up or give
away if it meant that he would be safe. Through serving him, I began to
know a love that I had only heard about from others. My own needs
effortlessly became secondary, as the well-being of my little one moved to
become my top priority—a constant meditation and full absorption. The
way a mama serves her little one is unmotivated and uninterrupted, which
births a love consisting of those same qualities. un·mo·ti·vat·ed: without a reason or motive. un·in·ter·rupt·ed: without a break in continuity. You are here to love, and thus serve, your little one—to let them feel the
way that God loves them through the way that you care. When you can
remember who they really are, beyond the limited scope of “your” child,
you can see the pure spirit soul within their tiny little body; this eternal
spirit who has been traveling from one body into the next since time
immemorial searching for the lasting happiness that can only be found in
connection to their true Self and in relation with God. You can understand
that the greatest service, while caring for their basic needs and loving them
with attention and intention, is to raise them to know who they really are,
beyond their body, mind, and emotions. Instill within them, through your
own example, the real value of living a deeper life and the importance of
spiritual connection. Nama Karana Samskara: Name-Giving
Ceremony
In Vedic tradition, it is auspicious for the parents to have the
name-giving ceremony— nama karana —on the 10th day,
12th day, 101st day, or first year after the birth of their baby. After the father spends the morning bathing and worshipping
the Lord with certain of ferings and mantras, the V edic name-
giving ceremony is done with the father of fering ghee-
soaked wood into a fire while saying specific prayers. If you will be doing a baby-naming ceremony, you can
bring your own sacred intention into naming your baby. Start
the morning by cleaning your house and then taking a
shower. Make a small fire or light some candles, and
arrange some flowers, leaves, or fruits in a mandala shape
around the fire with the intention of creating a sacred space. Say the following prayer, or a prayer that you write
yourself with similar intention. I offer my respects to the earth. I offer my respects to the space between the heavens
and the earth. I offer my respects to the heavens. I offer my respects to the universe. With your family sitting around the fire, you can hold your
baby in a clean cloth and sit on the father ’s right side. Handing the baby to their father, mama walks behind papa
and comes to his left side. At this point you should be facing
east. The father touches the mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears
of the baby with his right hand and says:
Your essence is spiritual, immortal like the Lord, O
[baby’ s name] enter in this solar month. May the Lord
consign you to the day. May the day consign you to the
night. May the night consign you to the day and night. May day and night consign you to half-months. May the
half-month consign you to the full months. May the
months consign you to the seasons. May the seasonsconsign you to the year. May the years consign you to
long life, O [baby’ s name]. The father then whispers the name of the baby into the
left ear of the mother, saying, “[baby’ s name] is your
son/daughter. ”
The father then gives the baby back to the mother and
places more ghee-soaked wood into the fire. He can end the
ceremony by saying the same of fering of respects as in the
beginning. He cried a lot this week. And I bounced on the ball as I put him down for a nap
and cried too. I begged him, or God, to just tell me what he needed. I felt frustrated when he seemed to cry for no reason
and sometimes annoyed
by how much he needed me. I felt like I needed a moment. One breath. Two seconds
for me. The ability to shower without saying,
“I’m just showering, little angel. I’ll be right there. ”
To eat a whole meal in peace,
or at least sitting in one place. And then he smiles
and my whole world melts. My whole world
melts. I am yours, little one. Completely taken. I feel like God must have given mamas super powers. Truly. To love like this is unreal. And the ability to serve like this…
what an opportunity. I need you too, little one. I’m learning what it means
to love. L. R. Knost, the author of Two Thousand Kisses a Day  and The Gentle
Parent, writes,
I discovered early in my parenting journey that raising my voice
might scare my children into compliance, but it taught them nothing
other than to be afraid of me, to hide their mistakes and problems
from me, and to raise their own voice when they were frustrated or
upset themselves. Speaking quietly, though, drew them in close,
quieted them down, built trust, and opened their little ears and minds
and hearts to my words and my thoughts and the life lessons I wanted
them to learn. Teaching and guiding and modeling positive
communication skills naturally took center stage once I’d made that
first discovery. Learning to control myself rather than try to control
my children, to show respect instead of demanding respect, to listen
instead of lecture, to communicate instead of command, to parent
instead of punish, to problem-solve instead of becoming part of the
problem myself, has been the journey of a lifetime. What a lifetime
it’s been. As mamas,
our job is to instill within them the knowingthat there is nothing they could do
that would make them undeserving of our love. That there is no emotional state
that we cannot hold space for with patience and attention. There is no need
that is too big of a burden. It’s a practice,
as there are moments when I’m tested. And I know that when I’m tested to step into something,
there lie my greatest opportunities for healing and growth. There are moments when I feel things or want to do things
that I would never do. There are moments when I want to shake you. There are moments when I want to leave you crying on the bed. There are moments when I want to avoid you or ignore you. There are moments when it takes everything in me
to take a deep breath. To pause. To ask myself,
“How can I love you more, little one. ”
And I feel guilty even admitting these things,
because I feel that maybe I’m the only mama in the world that
ever feels like this. Though I know that I’m not,
because this is the work of a mama. There are moments
when I want to project onto you
what’ s happening inside of me
instead of taking responsibility. These are the moments
where healing can happen. When I don’t react out of frustration or anger;
When I don’t act based on how my parents may have acted;
When I choose not to act based on my patterns and conditioned
beliefs;
When I instead exercise my ability to
respond
with more awareness, more love, and more kindness. The real work of a mama is the inner work. Where are your actions coming from. A place of love. A place of frustration or anger. Because that’ s what they feel
and that’ s how they then learn
to respond to the world. Deep breath, mamas. It’s a huge responsibility. It’s the most important work. And I’m right here with you. Understanding Newborns
Your newborn babe has left the warm, watery, dark, quiet, and comforting
home of your womb and entered into a world that is cold, dry, bright, loud,
and startling in contrast. You will notice them adapting to these changes in
different ways. Their skin may become dry; their arms will reach out
looking for the distinct boundary of the surrounding womb, though now
they feel only space. In order to support them in developing a nervous system that is well
adjusted to their environment, it is essential to help ease their transition into
the world. This is why Ayurveda places a strong emphasis on the
postpartum window as a time where mama and babe stay at home. The
home environment can be kept quiet, peaceful, predictable, warm, and
comfortable, so that your baby can adjust well and develop a stable nervous
system. Newborn babies do not need much else besides your love and care. Generally speaking, a healthy newborn that does not have any medical
conditions or temporary imbalances will cry for only a handful of reasons. If your baby seems unhappy or uncomfortable, check their basic needs first. Is their diaper dirty. Are they hungry. Are they tired. Are they too hot or
too cold. Do they want to be held. Are they gassy or in an uncomfortable
position. If their basic needs are all met, check to see if it is their primary need:
mama’ s love. Hold them close, sing to them, rock them, let them nurse just
for comfort, even if they may not be hungry. According to Ayurveda, it is best for a newborn baby to be in the auric
field—the ener getic field exuding from the body—of their mother for the
first several weeks, no more than a couple feet away. You are their entire
world—their comfort and their home. Your voice is soothing, your smell is
inviting. They do not know a world without your heartbeat close by. It
soothes their nervous system and quite literally stabilizes their breath to feel
your warmth. Use this time to be with your little one. Do not be rigid about
eating and sleeping schedules or other “shoulds. ” Simply get to know your
little angel, and allow your rhythms to ebb and flow as you discover
yourselves, together. BASIC NEEDS
When tending to your little one’ s basic needs, be as present with them as
possible. When you are caring for them in these necessary ways, whether itbe changing their diaper, bathing, or feeding them, of fer them your full
attention so that they know that they are worthy of deep love and care. Here are some details pertaining to caring for your baby’ s basic needs:
Diaper changes. A baby will be uncomfortable sitting in a poopy
diaper, and a dirty diaper may cause a diaper rash, so change your
little one’ s diaper right after they are finished pooping. If you are
using a disposable diaper, most of them have an absorbent quality
that pulls the wetness away from their skin, so it will not feel
uncomfortable if the baby is in the diaper for a while after peeing;
generally they can pee two to four times in a disposable diaper
before they need a change. If you are using cloth diapers, the baby
will likely be uncomfortable after peeing just once because they will
feel the wetness. I suggest using cloth diapers as often as possible,
especially as your little one gets older, to reduce waste and expense. We used mostly disposable in the early days, as it invited more ease
to our early postpartum rhythm, but then we switched to using one
cloth diaper per day, then two, before switching over completely. Temperature regulation. The traditional advice used to be that
parents should check the baby’ s hands and feet to see if they are
cold. The recommendation now, however, is to feel the temperature
of their chest—if the skin there is cold, they are too chilly and need
some warmth. If their chest is hot, they need to cool down. A rule of
thumb is for your baby to be wearing one more layer than you are,
as they are likely to feel cold in the first few weeks of life (since they
are used to the warmth of your womb). An infant cannot regulate
their own body temperature until they are several months old, so it is
dangerous for them to overheat. If they are sweating, they are too
hot and probably uncomfortable. Skin-to-skin contact is a great way
to regulate your baby’ s body temperature if they are hot, cold, or
have a fever. Let them rest on your bare chest and their temperature
will quickly regulate to match yours. Nourishment. Better than creating feeding schedules and tracking
your newborn’ s eating times is to learn your baby’ s cues for when
they are hungry, and feed them when they cue you. If your newborn
is crying and upset, hunger is one of the first things to check. Among
the many hunger cues that the baby may give (moving around,
looking around, opening their mouth and moving their head around,
licking their lips, reaching for you, and so on), crying is the last one. Ayurveda recommends at least two hours between feedings so that
the milk has time to fully digest in your babe’ s stomach. However, in
the newborn stage, please do not worry too much about timing, as
every child’ s needs are dif ferent—you can feed them more often if
they are hungrier or less often if they are sleeping (you do not have
to wake them up to eat). During growth spurts—which happen
roughly at three days, five days, ten days, three weeks, five weeks—
your baby may “cluster feed,” meaning that they continuously nurse
on and of f for what could be hours at a time. As they are constantly
growing (and quickly), their schedule yesterday may be completely
different from what they need today. Sleep. Newborns sleep a lot. They need sleep to support the rapid
growth that is happening in the first few months of life. Especially
during growth spurts, they may need to sleep more, or their sleep
schedules may change completely. Every time I thought I had figured
out my baby’ s schedule in the first few months, it would change a
few days later. Try not to get attached to a nap schedule or sleep
schedule. Let them sleep when they are tired and wake up when
they feel rested. You can help them to fall asleep by nursing them to
sleep, walking them around, holding them to your chest while
bouncing on a birthing ball, rocking in a rocking chair, walking around
with them in a baby carrier, or swaddling them. Swaddling helps your
little one to feel contained, similar to when they were in the womb. It
brings in the warm and stable elements, helping to pacify vatadosha. Making the shhhhhh  sound over and over again is also
soothing to them, as the sound reminds them of being in the womb. DUNSTAN BABY LANGUAGE
In June 1998, an Australian opera singer named Priscilla Dunstan gave birth
to her first child and her keen ear quickly noticed five distinct sounds to her
baby’ s cries. Pursuing Dunstan’ s resulting theory, that infants use these five
vocal sounds to communicate before learning how to speak, researchers
eventually observed over four hundred babies of varied ethnicities and
backgrounds to verify her claim that these sounds are vocal reflexes used to
communicate dif ferent needs. Listen carefully to a baby’ s cries and you will
be able to distinguish what it is they are asking for. My husband and I found
this especially useful, so I share it here with you:
Neh (I am hungry). Babies make the sound reflex neh to
communicate hunger. The sound is produced when the sucking
reflex is triggered, and the tongue is pushed up on the roof of the
mouth. Owh (I’m sleepy). An infant uses the sound reflex owh to
communicate that they are tired. The sound is produced much like
an audible yawn. Heh (I’m experiencing discomfort). A baby uses the sound reflex
heh to communicate stress or discomfort—perhaps that it needs a
fresh diaper or a change of position. The sound is produced by a
response to a skin reflex, such as feeling sweat or itchiness in the
bum. Eairh (I have lower gas). An infant uses the sound reflex eairh  to
communicate they have flatulence or an upset stomach. The sound
is produced when trapped air from a belch travels to the stomach,
where the muscles of the intestines tighten to force the air bubble
out. Often, this sound will indicate that a bowel movement is inprogress, and the infant will bend its knees, bringing the legs toward
the torso. This leg movement assists in the elimination process. Eh (I need to be burped). An infant uses the sound reflex eh to
communicate that a large bubble of air is trapped in the chest, and
the reflex is trying to help release the air bubble out of the mouth. NEWBORN ESSENTIALS
The following list of baby essentials (which doesn’ t include the obvious
diapers and wipes) are things I got the most use out of when my baby was a
newborn (that is, in the first three months or more) and would highly
recommend for any new mama. Disposable and washable organic bamboo breast pads. Reusable breast pads are great for the first couple of weeks
postpartum. W ear disposable pads at night, as the reusable ones
may soak through after a couple of hours and waking up in the
middle of the night with a milk-soaked bed is no fun. For the reusable
ones, I found bamboo to be the softest and they did not make my
nipples itch like some of the cotton ones with seams down the
middle. Haakaa breast pump. This pump attaches to your breasts easily
and lets you express milk naturally through suction. You can put it on
the breast that babe is not feeding from to catch the extra milk that
comes out. Muslin cotton swaddle blankets. Even if you do not swaddle your
babe, these light cotton blankets are cozy and are the perfect small
blanket for use in the house or while traveling (even if just in the
stroller or car seat. ). Burp cloths. Keep these by your bed, near your nursing station, in
the diaper bag, and in any common area around your house. Burpcloths are great not only for catching spit-up but also to catch any
leaking breast milk while nursing. Soft, light, bamboo pajamas for baby. Organic cotton is lovely, but
there is something even lovelier about a newborn in buttery soft
bamboo footie pajamas. The light fabric feels nice on their skin and
can end up being what little babe wears for the first six to eight
weeks of their life, if they wear anything at all. Boppy nursing pillow. This will save your back while nursing. Even
when not nursing, I would use this for my baby to sleep on me
without having to use my arms to hold him. It can also be used to
prop your newborn up after nursing if they are spitting up quite a bit. And finally, these pillows are useful when baby starts to sit up on
their own but needs a little assistance not to fall over. Tip: Get an
extra cover for laundry day. Baby carriers and wraps. You will get great use out of hands-free
carriers once you start moving around the house more. Baby will
benefit from being close to mama’ s heartbeat for as long as possible
and as often as possible. Again, Ayurveda says a baby should not
leave the mother ’s auric field for at least the first six weeks, so this is
a great way to keep them close. Diaper changing pads. You will likely want some portable diaper
changing pads, a plastic foldable one, and some cloth washable
ones (three or four). Changing pads are great to keep next to your
bed or your baby’ s sleeping space during the first few weeks for
midnight diaper changes. And remember to store one in your diaper
bag for on-the-go changes for months to come. Baby lounger. Baby will feel so cozy napping in this little pillow
anywhere around the house in the first several months. It can also
be used as a cosleeper in your bed. Baby bathtub. This can be placed right in your bathtub or sink and
can be used from the first bath to the hundredth. Washable incontinence pads. Get two to four of these and put
them on your mattress under your sheets where you sleep. From
postpartum bleeding, baby poop explosions, leaky pee diapers, and
puddles of breast milk, these will save your mattress. Bedside basket. Get a nice basket and place it next to your bed so
that is easy to access without you having to get up when the baby is
with you. In the basket put everything you might need for you and
your little one—diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, waterproof
changing pads, a few onesies, and anything else that you will be
using frequently. IS THAT NORMAL. During the early days of motherhood, you will likely find yourself repeating
the phrase “Is that normal. ” for just about everything. Of course, always go with your intuition, and when in doubt, ask for
guidance. Call your midwives, your doctors, your pediatrician, your doula,
your lactation consultant, your mom, your mom friends, or anyone you can
get advice from. It is always better to be safe than sorry and it eases worry
to hear “Y es, that is normal” when you are feeling nervous. Here is a list of questions that may come up, and I can assure you: “Y es,
that is normal. ”
“Why is her heart beating so fast. Is that normal. ”  Babies’  tiny
hearts beat faster than ours. They commonly beat around 120 beats
per minute, which will sound and feel very fast to you. It is normal. “He keeps forgetting to take a breath.
The relationship between a mother and her child refines her, teaching her to be patient, loving, and aware of her own patterns and reactions, and to respond with kindness and love.
What is the purpose of the relationship between a mother and her child?
According to Ayurveda, it is not recommended to punish or scold the baby, but rather to understand the underlying need that the baby is trying to express and address it.
What is the recommended approach to handling a baby's behavior, according to Ayurveda?
Ayurveda recommends avoiding commercial baby products and using natural and gentle methods to soothe and heal the skin, such as applying a cool washcloth or avoiding overheating.
What is the recommended approach to handling a baby's diaper rash?
According to the text, it is recommended to not force a specific sleep schedule, but rather to follow the baby's cues and allow for a natural rhythm to develop.
What is the recommended approach to handling a baby's sleep patterns?
The text recommends responding to the baby's needs and emotions, rather than just the surface-level symptoms, and to address the underlying cause of the crying, such as hunger, discomfort, or the need for attention.
What is the recommended approach to handling a baby's crying?