Newborn Senses

Your Postpartum Stay

Additional security measures:

When your baby is born, a sensor is attached to his/her ankle or umbilical cord. This device sets off an alarm if your baby is moved near any of the exits, stairs or elevators in our area.

The Labor & Delivery and the Postpartum areas are always on “lockdown” mode. To enter these areas, visitors must identify themselves and the door must be unlocked by the staff inside.

Check for an official hospital ID badge. Release your infant only to staff members wearing the appropriate name tags. During your hospital tour, you will be told how to identify these badges. Otherwise, the baby should not leave your room.

Babies are transported in bassinets/cribs. No infants are to be carried in the hallways by staff, parents or visitors.

Postpartum Health

Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Many mothers experience the "baby blues," a period of time that includes mood swings, unexplained feelings of sadness and other emotional responses in the first few weeks of postpartum life. In fact, up to 80 percent of women reported negative feelings or mood swings after birth (American Pregnancy Association).

These mood swings are attributed to hormonal changes as the body readjusts after being pregnant. While the baby blues are very common in postpartum women, your OB/GYN is available to answer any questions and can offer guidance.

Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression is a more serious medical condition that can be treated with medication and therapy. Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 15 percent of women and usually involves more severe symptoms than the baby blues.

Comparing the baby blues and postpartum depression:

	Baby Blues	Postpartum Depression
Symptoms	Crying spells Feel overwhelmed Loss of appetite Trouble sleeping Sudden mood changes	Feeling sad, worthless, hopeless or guilty Feelings of unexplained anger or rage Worrying excessively or feeling on edge Loss of interest in hobbies or things you once enjoyed Changes in appetite or not eating Loss of energy and motivation Trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep all the time Crying for no reason or excessively Difficulty thinking or focusing Thoughts of suicide or wishing you were dead Lack of interest in your baby or feeling anxious around your baby Thoughts of hurting your baby or feeling like you don't want your baby
Symptom duration	0-3 weeks after birth	More than three weeks after birth

If you believe you may be experiencing postpartum depression, we urge you to seek care from your OB/GYN, mental healthcare provider or primary care provider. Therapy, support groups and medication are all options for women living with postpartum depression.

If you experience a mental health crisis, call 9-1-1 or seek emergency care immediately.

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Obstetrics Services

Babies are born with all of the senses — sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Some of the senses are not fully developed at birth. The newborn's senses are as follows:

Sight

Over the first few months, babies may have uncoordinated eye movements and may even appear cross-eyed. Stages of eye development:

Babies are born with the ability to focus only at close range — about 8 to 10 inches or the distance between a mother's face to the baby in her arms.
Babies are able to follow or track an object in the first few weeks of life.
Newborns can detect light and dark but cannot see all colors. This is why many baby books and infant toys have distinct black and white patterns.
Focus improves over the first 2 to 3 years of life to a normal 20/20 vision.

Hearing

During pregnancy, many mothers find that the baby may kick or jump in response to loud noises and quiet with soft, soothing music. Hearing is fully developed in newborns.

Babies with normal hearing should startle in response to loud sounds.
These babies will also pay quiet attention to the mother's voice, and briefly stop moving when sound at a conversational level is begun.
Newborns seem to prefer a higher-pitched voice (the mother's) to a low sounding voice (males).
They also have the ability to tune out loud noises after hearing them several times.
Newborns are screened for hearing while still in the hospital.

Smell

Studies have found that newborns have a strong sense of smell. Newborns prefer the smell of their own mother, especially to her breast milk.

Taste

Babies prefer sweet tastes over sour or bitter tastes. Babies also show a strong preference for breast milk and breastfeeding, especially if they are breastfed and then offered formula or a bottle.

Touch

Babies are comforted by touch. Here are a few ways to help your baby feel secure:

Place a hand on the baby's abdomen, or cuddle him or her close.
Swaddling (wrapping snugly in a blanket) is another technique used to help babies feel secure.
Some mothers find their babies are comforted when "worn" in a sling or carrier.
Holding a baby for feedings is also important.
Breastfeeding ensures that a baby spends several hours in mother's arms. Although bottle feeding of breast milk may also be done.

Postpartum Care