There is much debate surrounding this question, but many experts believe that newborns do indeed have a rudimentary sense of awareness of their mother. In some cases, newborns may react positively when they are placed near or held by their mother. Additionally, some studies have shown that newborns can track the movements of their mothers and respond to sounds that they hear. However, it is still difficult to ascertain whether or not these reactions are truly indicative of knowledge or simply instinctual responses.