Season 1, Episode 3
October 6, 2026
About This Episode
Newborns make a lot of noises, cry for reasons you can’t always identify, spit up constantly, seem gassy, and somehow make you question whether every single thing is normal.
In this episode of Since I Became a Mother, I sit down with Dr. Nilay Donmez, a triple board-certified pediatrician in general pediatrics, pediatric nephrology, and obesity medicine, to talk through some of the questions new parents Google most in those early months.
We talk about crying, gas, reflux, colic, feeding concerns, and how to tell the difference between something that is uncomfortable but normal and something that actually warrants a call to the pediatrician.
Dr. Donmez also explains why understanding normal newborn behavior can sometimes be more helpful than adding another gadget, remedy, or product to the mix.
This conversation is for the parent who has ever stared at their baby at 2 a.m. wondering, “Is this normal?”
In This Episode
What normal newborn crying can look like
Why crying often increases during the first several weeks of life
The typical crying curve and when it tends to peak
What colic actually means
Why gas is so common in newborns
What parents should know about infant reflux
The difference between normal spit-up and symptoms that need medical attention
When crying may be a sign that something more serious is going on
When to call your pediatrician
Why newborn behavior can feel alarming even when it is developmentally normal
How feeding can affect gas, spit-up, and discomfort
Why parents can get pulled into trying endless products and gadgets
What Dr. Donmez wishes more new parents understood about the newborn stage
How knowing what is normal can make the early months feel less frightening
This Week’s Guest
Dr. Nilay Donmez
Dr. Nilay Donmez is a triple board-certified physician in general pediatrics, pediatric nephrology, and obesity medicine. She practices at First Steps Pediatrics in Tribeca, where she cares for infants, children, and adolescents and helps families navigate everything from everyday newborn concerns to more complex medical questions.
Resources Mentioned
The newborn crying curve: Crying commonly increases during the first weeks of life, often peaks around six weeks, and gradually decreases as babies get older.
Colic: A term used for prolonged or frequent crying in an otherwise healthy infant, rather than a single specific diagnosis or cause.
Infant reflux: Spit-up and reflux are common in young babies because their digestive systems are still developing, although certain symptoms should be discussed with a pediatrician.
Your pediatrician: When something feels different, severe, persistent, or concerning, parents should always feel comfortable reaching out to their child’s healthcare provider.
About Since I Became a Mother
Since I Became a Mother is a podcast about who we were before motherhood, who we are now, and who we’re still becoming.
Through honest conversations and personal stories, we explore the ways motherhood reshapes our identity, relationships, ambition, mental health, bodies, friendships, and the way we understand ourselves.
New episodes every Tuesday.
Before I was a mother, I barely noticed mothers. And now they’re all I see.
I see you.
Listen to Episode 3
Is This Normal? Crying, Gas, Reflux & When to Call the Pediatrician with Dr. Nilay Donmez
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/since-i-became-a-mother/id1724264667
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4i5QiWoXeiZ1N6dRvGzLZZ?si=eb40a87dec5a448b
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorRaeRoman
About Taylor Rae Roman
Taylor Rae Roman is the host of Since I Became a Mother, a writer, content creator, and mother exploring the identity shifts, relationships, mental health, ambition, and everyday realities that come with becoming a mother.
Instagram: @taylorraeroman
Podcast Instagram: @sinceibecameamother
TikTok: @taylorraeroman
YouTube: Taylor Rae Roman
