Objective: to describe meaning of pain in newborn, for mother and her care practices to alleviate it. Methodology: qualitative, ethnographic and small scope study. The sample was saturation of information through 22 in-depth interviews with 8 mothers; field notes and participative observation were used. The analysis followed James Spradley's methodology. Results: core subject is the newborn's pain is known, felt and alleviated by mother with support of family; one of subtopics is know and alleviate pain of their newborns that comprises five domains: • Pain in different parts of body: types of pain in newborn; • See, touch and perceive: ways in which mothers identify pain; • Crying and behavior: ways in which newborn ex-presses pain; • Gasses, maternal feeding habits and beliefs: pain causes in newborn; • Home practices, rituals and medicines: ways to alleviate pain. Conclusion: newborn baby's pain is a threat to health and lives. She knows when and where it hurts and her relief practices are consistent with cultural knowledge. For them she has organic, environmental and mythical causes; hence nursing care should be sensitive and in agreement with mother's culture.