I just watched The Happiest Baby on the Block with Dr. Harvey Karp. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Karp comfort crying babies, calming them quickly. I have learned his techniques from other doulas and found them very successful in my work. I am currently reading his book in which he explores cultures where babies cry very little and common assumptions about what causes colic. His theory is a newborns crying is because human babies are born 3 months too early, and need more womb-like time. Human babies are born before they are ready because they have big brains and they have to be born when they are so they will fit in the birth canal. Babies who are intense or sensitive especially need this womb time.
In wombs babies bodies are wrapped tightly, so although they may protest, swaddling them first enables you to calm them with the other techniques (otherwise they have a reflex where their arms and legs shoot out and then inward, and can further upset them). Lay them on their sides or stomach in your arms (always place baby on back to sleep). Wombs are jiggly as mom walks, so he suggests rhythmic movement. Wombs are noisy, babies like white noise like static, vacuums, or shhhh. You have to be louder than baby's crying, get up close to their ear. They need to be held and fed often. Dr. Karp says it is very important newborns learn to trust their parents and their world, and it is impossible to spoil them, at this age. He also points out that in other cultures and times there were always extra hands to help out so parents could give babies what they need without complete exhaustion. I am so happy that my work as a postpartum doula provides the support new parents need!
© 2010 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.
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