She undid his clothes and checked him for rashes but found nothing.

Rachael picked him up again, this time holding him more upright as she patted his back and soothed him. 'Well? What's wrong with him?' Rachael walked back towards Tracy as she kept rubbing Bobby's back. His crying had settled again and once more he sniffled. She rubbed her cheek on his soft, downy head, loving the feel. 'Babies cry for many reasons. They're hungry, need a nappy change, have wind, are too hot or too cold, over-stimulated, overtired or even because they're bored.' 'Bored? He's only one month old!'

Rachael smiled reassuringly. 'Yes, bored. He's a male, after all.' Rachael's sexist comment managed to raise a smile from Tracy. 'True.' She blew her nose and put the tissues in the bin. 'Does he spit up little bits of milk after a feed? When you burp him?' 'Yes, all the time. He sometimes even vomits and then I have to start all over again.' Rachael nodded. 'Bobby has reflux.' 'What's that?' 'After he's had a feed, when you lie him down on his back, some of the milk mixed with stomach acid comes back up. In essence, it's burning his throat.' Tracy just stared at her son. 'So something is wrong?' 'Yes.' 'It's not just me?' 'No,' Rachael said softly. 'I'm not a bad mum?' 'No.' 'My poor baby.' A fresh bout of tears misted her eyes. 'Look at me. I can't stop crying.' 'It's quite normal, I'm afraid,' Rachael said with a smile.

'I'm so tired and I'm hardly sleeping and I can feel myself getting angry with him.' Tracy stopped, a guilty look crossing her face. 'You're afraid you're going to hurt him.' Rachael said the words she knew were on the tip of Tracy's tongue. 'I've heard stories about mothers shaking their babies and I used to think it was so cruel and that they should use more self-restraint but...' She shook her head. 'I'm there! I felt like shaking him last night and it scared me to death. That's why I came here today.' Rachael stopped patting Bobby's back and placed her hand on Tracy's shoulder. 'You did the right thing and I'm proud of you. You're a good motherand make sure you keep telling yourself that.' Tracy's smile was heartfelt as she hiccupped a sigh. 'Thanks.' Bobby had started to settle and was now just making a low groaning noise. Rachael could feel him getting heavier as he rested his head against her shoulder and realised he must be starting to go to sleep. 'Tell me about your day. I know you probably feel as though you're on a merry-go-round but just start somewhere.' 'I feed him, I change him, I burp himjust like the nurses showed me. I try to put him in his cot or on a rug on the floor while I either do the dishes or have something to eat or put the washing on. There's so much washing.' 'The washing is always there,' Rachael agreed. 'What then? Does he let you leave him?' 'Most of the times he screams and screams, so much that it scares me if I don't pick him up. I check his nappy again, I see if he has wind but he just doesn't settle.'

Rachael could see the anguish in Tracy's face. 'Go on.' 'So I pick him up and end up doing everything one-handed. It takes me for ever to hang up the washing.' 'Have you thought about a sling?' 'A sling?' 'A baby sling. You can put Bobby in the .sling, which you wear around you, and then you have both hands free.' 'A sling.' Tracy nodded as though it were the most startling revelation she'd ever heard. 'That only gives you a hands-free option for a while. Keep going. What happens next?' 'It just starts all over again. The feeding, the changing, the burping, the not settling.' Bobby was now asleep in her arms and Rachael found herself quite content to hold him for a bit longer. Besides, they needed to adjust the pram before he was put back in. 'He cries.' 'Does he seem to be feeding well? Getting enough food? Does he cry for more when he's finished?' 'No. The only time he's quiet is when he's drinking.' 'So you just snatch food whenever you can.' 'Yes. I'm tired and exhausted. I'm up most of the night with him. I'm dead on my feet.'

'You need more sleep.' 'How? I can't wait until Friday when Paul comes home.' 'I'm not suggesting you do. I know this is probably going to drive you crazy, but what about asking your mother-in-law to look after Bobby tomorrow? Just for a few hours so you can get some sleep. Is he her only grandchild?' 'Yes.' 'Then she obviously wants to be involved. Asking her to help in this way may actually serve two purposes. First, it will get her off your back with all her...er...shall we say rather helpful suggestions and, secondly, you get some quality time to sleep.' 'But'