Newborns Appearance

The labor is over and you are holding the baby you have dreamed about for so long. But your baby’s appearance may be a shock. Instead of the beautiful baby you imagined, your baby emerges with visible signs of the birth, from bloody hair and minor bruising to blotchy, wrinkled skin; it takes a little time for your baby to “smooth out” and become a perfect baby. Your baby will be checked for any problems (see What is the Doctor Looking For? below).

What Might my Baby Look Like?

Besides being covered with blood and vernix, your baby may be bruised and marked from the birth, especially if a fetal scalp monitor was attached or forceps were used. The skin can be alarming, dull bluish gray in the first minutes after the birth, but soon becomes pinker. Add to this a red, wrinkled face and a strangely shaped head from the pressure of birth, and you have a realistic picture of a newborn. The body’s systems are not effective yet, so you will notice blotches, and color changes that may worry you, but are perfectly normal. Most blemishes will disappear by the time your baby is two weeks old.

The body

The average full-term baby weighs seven to seven and one-half pounds and measures about twenty inches. A newborn baby’s shoulders are narrow, his abdomen protrudes, his hips are small, and his arms and legs are relatively short and flexed.

The hair

Some babies are born with full heads of hair, while others are virtually bald. Fine, downy body hair, called lanugo, may be noticeable on your baby’s back, shoulders, forehead, ears, and face. It is most pronounced in premature babies. Lanugo disappears during the first few weeks.

The blister on the lip

Intense sucking often causes a painless blister on the center of your baby’s upper lip. Sometimes the sucking blister peels. It disappears gradually as the lip toughens.

The umbilical cord

A newborn baby’s umbilical cord is bluish-white in color and one or two inches long immediately after it is cut. The umbilical cord dries, shrivels and darkens, and falls off spontaneously between the first and third weeks. It is important to keep the cord clean and dry, so do not cover it with diapers or plastic pants. If there is a foul odor, redness, or discharge with pus, report it to your doctor.

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The head

Pressure exerted during the birth can distort the shape of the head for the first two weeks. The bones of the soft spot (fontanelle) on the top of the head have not yet knitted together; this will not happen until about 18 months.

The hands and feet

If your baby’s circulation is slow to start, the hands and feet may appear bluish, but should turn pink if you move your baby into another position. Fingernails can be long at birth.

The eyes

Often black or blue (whatever the race is) at birth; true eye color may not develop until your baby is six months old. Puffy eyelids are caused by the pressure of birth, and squinting is common. Your baby may even look cross-eyed at times in the first months.

The skin

The thick white grease (vernix) that protected the skin in the womb is absorbed or rubbed off. Pimples, rashes, and dry skin should clear naturally. Body hair (lanugo) rubs off in two weeks.

The breasts

Your baby boy or girl may have swollen breasts and even leak a little milk. This is normal in both sexes. The swelling should go down within two days. Do not try to squeeze the milk out.

The genitals

Swollen genitals are common in both sexes. A baby girl may have a clear or pinkish vaginal discharge but this should soon disappear. The testicles of a baby boy are often pulled up into his groin and will descend later.

What is the Doctor Looking For?

A pediatrician will examine your baby from head to toe at least once after birth. Besides checking for any physical abnormalities, the doctor looks for signs of infection or other problems.

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Heart and Lungs

A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs.

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Hips

The hips are checked for signs of dislocation by bending the legs up and gently swiveling them.

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Abdominal Organs

The abdomen will be gently palpated so that the size of the abdominal organs can be checked.

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Spine

The doctor runs his or her thumb along the length of the back to check that the vertebrae are in the correct place.

Blood test

A few days after the birth, a blood sample is taken by pricking your baby’s heel. The sample is tested for phenylketonuria (PKU, a rare cause of mental handicap) and for thyroid deficiency.

A Word about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Almost every parent worries about SIDS at some time. You may know someone whose baby died of SIDS, or you may have read about it. There is no way to minimize the loss and grief caused by SIDS, but the following facts might help you put your fears and worries into perspective:

• SIDS is not caused by a baby’s parents; it cannot be predicted and it cannot be prevented. SIDS even occurs in the hospital.
• About two to three deaths per thousand live births in the US are caused by SIDS.
• Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur between two and six months of age.
• Death occurs quickly and painlessly and is not the result of suffocation, asphyxiation, or regurgitation.
• SIDS is not caused by immunizations; in fact, statistically SIDS deaths occur more commonly in infants who have not been immunized.
• Families who have lost a previous baby to SIDS are no more likely to lose subsequent babies to SIDS than any other family.
• SIDS is not contagious.
• No one is to blame for SIDS.

Conclusion

Getting to know and falling in love with your new baby begins before birth and continues over time. If you know what to expect, what is normal, and how to interpret his cues, and if you can appreciate that he has his own unique personality, your role as a parent will be easier and more satisfying. Remember, no one loves your baby or cares more about his well-being than you. He senses this and thrives on your love.