Newborn Health Monitoring, Maternal Nutrition, and Infant Care

Physical care for neonates involves monitoring developmental milestones, managing digestive health, and addressing maternal postpartum mental health concerns.

Newborns and What to Expect

Is it OK for My Newborn to Strain?

Published Jun,13 2017 | By Brenna Davis

Newborns frequently strain while having bowel movements, particularly in the first few weeks of life. It often takes babies several months to learn how to properly push out bowel movements while relaxing their sphincter muscles, according to Parkside Pediatrics.

Brenna Davis is a professional writer who covers parenting, pets, health and legal topics. Her articles have appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as on websites. She is a court-appointed special advocate and is certified in crisis counseling and child and infant nutrition. She holds degrees in developmental psychology and philosophy from Georgia State University.