Your Baby's First Year ~ Week 4

Your baby will be watching, listening and picking up clues on how humans interact with each other, by studying your movements. He is also beginning to recognize immediate family members, and may respond to coos and smiles from others. But the real thrill is that in the next few weeks he will begin to "talk" himself - that is, coo, gurgle, grunt, and hum, to express his feelings. It's amazing how quickly they grow and change in the first few weeks!

It's not too early to create a routine for your baby that you follow every day. This will help your baby learn to trust his environment. It will also help him learn how to sleep through the night, by creating a ritual that is identified with bedtime. However, don't be dismayed if your baby continues to wake in the night for many weeks (or months!) to come. When it comes to normal sleeping patterns, remember there are as many variations of normal as there are babies!

Many women now feel that they 'have it all' -- a beautiful baby and a wonderful partner -- but still feel depressed. This can be very troubling, but it is also very normal. Hormones may be the cause, although the experts have yet to provide any definitive explanations. About the only good thing that can be said about postpartum depression, or sometimes called the baby blues, is that it usually doesn't last long (about 48 hours, for most women).

Severe postpartum depression is rare -- affecting fewer than 1 in 1000 women. If your depression lasts for more than two weeks, and is accompanied by sleeplessness, lack of appetite, a feeling of hopelessness and possibly even aggressive or violent feelings toward the baby, call your doctor or seek counseling right away. You owe it to yourself and your baby to be happy.