Physical impressions
There are many physical differences between a newborn baby and one of a couple of months. The average brith weight is 2.5-4.5kg (5lb 8oz-9lb 12 oz), but smaller shouldn't make you worry. The average lengh of a baby at term is 48-51com (19-20in), but again big variations are common.
Impressions: baby's head
© Jupiter
Size
The average newborn baby's head circumference is about 35cm (14in). It may seem large in comparison with the rest of his body as it comprises a quarter of his length compared to one eighth in an adult.
Shape
Your baby's head is unlikely to be perfectly rounded after birth, but, no matter how bumpy or swollen it looks, your baby's brain will not have been damaged. This is because the bones in the head are specially designed to move over each other during birth so that the head, which is the largest part of the baby's body, can pass down the birth canal easily. The head will soon regain its rounded shape.
Sometimes a baby has a large, firm swelling on one or both sides of the head that doesn't go down immediately. Called a cephalhaematoma, this is again caused by the natural pressure exerted by the uterine muscle during labour. It's really a large bruise of the scalp and it's outside the skull. The swelling puts no pressure on the baby's brain and subsides, without treatment, within a few weeks.
Bruising is quite common after a forceps delivery, as are shallow indentations on either side of the head. They are both rectified naturally within a couple of days.
The fontanelle
The fontanelle is the soft spot in the top of your baby's head and it is the space where the skull bones have not yet joined. They don't fuse until your baby is about two years old. The baby's scalp covers this space and is really quite tough, but make sure that the fontanelle is never pressed very hard. The purpose of the fontanelle is to allow the soft skull bones to “mould” (this means to ride over one another) without damage to the baby's brain as it passes through the birth canal. You need take no special care of the skin and hair that cover the fontanelle. However, if you ever notice that the skin over the area is taut, if there's a bulge or if the area's abnormally shrunken, contact your doctor immediately.
Impressions: baby's eyes
Condition
Most babies are born with rather puffy eyes as a result of the natural pressure during birth. The swelling usually goes down within a couple of days.
Never accept a discharge from your baby's eyes as normal. In all probability it's a common, mild infection called “sticky eye”, but it should always be treated by a doctor, not by yourself. Never use proprietary drops or ointments.
Colour
All babies are born with blue eyes. This is because melanin, the body's natural pigment, is not present in the skin or eyes at birth. If a baby is going to have brown eyes or a dark brown skin, the colour will gradually develop over a period of weeks or months. The eyes and skin may not reach their permanent colour until the baby is six months old.
Eye function
You may find it difficult to get your baby to open his eyes at first, but never try to force them open. One of the easiest ways I have found to get a baby to open his eyes is to hold him above my head. The tendency then is to open them.
You might notice when your baby does open his eyes that he appears to squint. Don't worry about this. Your baby hasn't yet learnt to use his eyes synchronously, as a pair, to focus on things. The squinting will gradually disappear as he learns to focus when he's one or two months old. Check with your doctor if your baby is still squinting after three months.
Tears
Tiny babies don't shed tears, as you'll find when your baby cries. It usually takes about four or five months for a baby to produce “real” tears when he cries.
Impressions: baby's mouth
Lip blisters
Such blisters, usually in the centre of the mouth, are caused by the baby's sucking. They cause no harm and will go away of their own accord.
Tongue-tie
Your baby's tongue may appear to be almost fully attached to the bottom of his mouth. This should not be a cause of worry. The baby's tongue grows mainly from the tip throughout the first year.
Impressions: baby's skin
The vernix
The skin of your newborn will probably be covered with this white, greasy substance. Some babies have vernix all over their face and body, while others only have it on isolated parts such as their face and hands. Hospital practices in relation to vernix have changed. Whereas it used to be meticulously cleaned off after birth it is now left on because it provides a natural barrier against minor skin infections. It is generally considered unnecessary to clean it off not only because of the vernix's protective qualities, but also because it is naturally absorbed into the skin within two or three days. However, if there are large accumulations of vernix in skin folds it may be wiped away in case it causes irritation.
Texture
Your baby may be born with dry peeling skin (most noticeable on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet). This is not eczema nor does it mean that your baby will be permanently dry-skinned. In most cases the dryness soon disappears.
Colour
The top half of your baby's body may be pale while the lower half is red. This is due to the baby's immature circulation, which causes the blood to pool in the lower limbs. The difference is rectified by moving your baby about.
You may notice that your baby's hands or feet have turned rather blue, especially if he's been lying down. Once again, this is due to your baby's relatively inefficient circulation. The colour will change if you pick up or move him. Try to keep your baby's room at an equable temperature, around 16-20°C (65-68°F). Blue marks (also called Mongolian blue spots), which look like bruises, often occur on the lower backs of babies with dark skin tones (nearly all African and Asian babies have them). They are completely harmless and fade away naturally.
Jaundice
Many healthy newborn infants develop slight jaundice - a yellowish discolouration of the skin and the whites of the eyes - on about the third day of life. This is known as physiological jaundice, because it is not a disease. It is due to the baby's blood having a high content of primitive red cells, which are broken down after birth. When red cells are broken down, one of their constituent parts, the yellow pigment called bilirubin, increases in the blood and causes the skin and eyes to colour. Physiological jaundice should clear by the end of the first week as long as the baby is feeding well.
The umbilicus
Immediately after birth the umbilical cord is cut about 8-10cm (3-4in) from the baby's abdomen. Pressure is exerted on it by a clamp and the stump shrivels and drops off within ten days or so. Some babies develop umbilical hernias (small swellings near the navel), but these nearly always clear up within a year of their own accord. If your baby has one and it enlarges or persists check with your midwife or health visitor.
The breasts
Both male and female babies can have swollen breasts at birth; they may even have a slight discharge of milk. This is caused by the presence of maternal hormones in the baby's body and it resolves itself naturally. Never try to squeeze any of the milk out. The swelling will subside within a couple of days.
The genitals
The genitals of both boys and girls are naturally larger at birth than the rest of their bodies. The scrotum or vulva may even look rather red and inflamed. This is a natural occurrence and is caused by the mother's hormones crossing the placenta into the baby's bloodstream. Such hormones may also cause a clear or white discharge in female babies, and even a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Once again, this is perfectly normal and will clear up naturally after a couple of days. However, if you're at all worried by this, contact your doctor.
Stools
A baby's first stools are usually dark green and sticky and have very little smell. This is because they are mainly meconium, which is digested mucus from the mucus glands in the bowel. It is the only kind of motion your baby will pass for the first two or three days. Gradually over the next three or four days you will notice that the stools change colour. The appearance and consistency of the stools will then depend on whether your baby is having breast or formula milk (see Stools of the breast-fed baby).
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 03.11.2010
Get more on this subject…
