Baby’s first smiles give mom’s brain a buzz

Tiny grins light up reward centers that lead to quality care, study says. Any mother who’s ever felt a jolt of joy at her baby’s first grin knows how intoxicating that can be.

Now, scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine say there’s more to the baby buzz than just a rush of happy feelings. Turns out that seeing your own child smile actually activates the pleasure receptors in the brain typically associated with food, sex — and drug addiction.

“It may be that seeing your own baby’s face is like a ‘natural high,’ said Lane Strathearn, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor and and Texas Children’s Hospital who studied the brain reactions of 28 first-time moms.

“We know similar brain circuits are activated,” he added. “Whether that feels the same as a shot of cocaine, I’m not sure.”

Mail carrier catches baby under window

ALBANY, N.Y. — A postal worker is credited with saving a 1-year-old girl by catching her after she fell out of a second-story window in Albany, N.Y.

Lisa Harrell was delivering mail to a home yesterday morning when she noticed a baby in an open window above the front door. Harrell says the next thing she knew, the baby fell into her arms.

When the baby’s mother realized what happened, she ran outside and grabbed the girl. The woman thanked Harrell and then ran to her mother’s house.

Paramedics checked the baby and found no injuries.

No charges are being filed against the mother, who says she had placed her daughter on a bed that was up against the window. The mother says her back was turned when her daughter crawled out.

Associated Press
April 22, 2008

Mail carrier catches baby under window

ALBANY, N.Y. — A postal worker is credited with saving a 1-year-old girl by catching her after she fell out of a second-story window in Albany, N.Y.

Lisa Harrell was delivering mail to a home yesterday morning when she noticed a baby in an open window above the front door. Harrell says the next thing she knew, the baby fell into her arms.

When the baby’s mother realized what happened, she ran outside and grabbed the girl. The woman thanked Harrell and then ran to her mother’s house.

Paramedics checked the baby and found no injuries.

No charges are being filed against the mother, who says she had placed her daughter on a bed that was up against the window. The mother says her back was turned when her daughter crawled out

Associated Press