At first glance, your newborn’s looks may just…shock you!
You’ve been imagining an adorable baby with chubby cheeks, but what you actually take home is a wrinkled, puffy-faced, oddly colored little creature... sometimes even covered with dark hair! Here’s what your newborn will really look like.
Head
A baby’s head comprises one fourth of his or her entire body length. What makes it possible for the head to get through the birth canal during delivery is the fact that certain bones in the skull overlap to decrease the size of the head temporarily. This gives the head the cone-shaped appearance that parents may notice at birth. There are “soft spots” on your baby’s head, called the fontanels, which allow this molding to occur. Though you should always be careful with a baby’s head, with ordinary care you won’t do any harm. Even newborns can have their hair washed and ‘gently’ brushed. Over time, the bones will grow together and the fontanels will close completely by about 18 months.
Eyes Your newborn may not be able to open his/her eyes straight away due to puffiness caused by the recent pressure exercised on the head during delivery. Never try to force your baby’s eyes open; they will open when ready.
Many babies are born with gray-blue eyes, but don’t be fooled, because the color is liable to change. You won’t know the true color of your baby’s eyes for several months, because it is only then that babies acquire melanin, the body’s natural pigment.
Nose
Another common feature among babies is a flattened nose. In time, heredity will take its course, and by the time they’re eight months to one year old, you will have a clearer view of what your baby’s nose really looks like.
Breasts
It is common for breasts, of both girls and boys to be swollen, due to the mother’s hormones passing through the placenta during the baby’s time inside the womb. This is nothing to worry about, and parents should not be alarmed if they find milky fluid leaking out. Do not squeeze the nipples; the milk will disappear in time, and squeezing could cause irritation.
Navel
The remains of the umbilical cord, which is the lifeline between the mother and her baby during pregnancy, will stay on your baby’s navel for one or two weeks after birth. It is a source of major concern to most parents, especially first-timers. The best way to deal with the umbilical cord is to keep it as clean and dry as you can. Fold diapers down so that it doesn’t get wet. You should also clean the stump with alcohol two or three times a day to keep it unsoiled, until it eventually drops off by itself. If the skin becomes red or oozes grayish-white fluid, you should call the doctor immediately.
Genitals Some parents are shocked by their baby’s swollen genitals. This swelling occurs in both girls and boys and is usually due to the mother’s hormones during pregnancy. Also due to this transfer of hormones, a baby girl may even experience bloody discharge from her vagina. Again, this is nothing to worry about.
Body Hair
Soft, dark lanugo hair on the newborn’s body is not unusual, especially if the baby is premature. It will disappear along with all the other oddities, but only after giving you this blind-date first shock to test your love for them.
Skin
A white, waxy material may coat your new arrival. This substance, called vernix, protects the skin from the amniotic fluid in the uterus. Most of it disappears after the baby’s first bath.
Red spots, especially on the face, or dark blotches scattered all over a newborn’s body are not uncommon. Both conditions are temporary.
If your baby’s skin starts to look yellow, it may indicate a mild form of jaundice. Contact your pediatrician, who will suggest treatment if your baby needs it.
Newborns have poor circulation, so one side of your newborn’s body or her hands and feet may suddenly turn blue. While alarming, this is usually nothing to worry about. Just turn your baby on to his/her other side or gently rub his/her body to get the blood to circulate through properly.
You’ve been imagining an adorable baby with chubby cheeks, but what you actually take home is a wrinkled, puffy-faced, oddly colored little creature... sometimes even covered with dark hair! Here’s what your newborn will really look like.
Head
A baby’s head comprises one fourth of his or her entire body length. What makes it possible for the head to get through the birth canal during delivery is the fact that certain bones in the skull overlap to decrease the size of the head temporarily. This gives the head the cone-shaped appearance that parents may notice at birth. There are “soft spots” on your baby’s head, called the fontanels, which allow this molding to occur. Though you should always be careful with a baby’s head, with ordinary care you won’t do any harm. Even newborns can have their hair washed and ‘gently’ brushed. Over time, the bones will grow together and the fontanels will close completely by about 18 months.
Eyes Your newborn may not be able to open his/her eyes straight away due to puffiness caused by the recent pressure exercised on the head during delivery. Never try to force your baby’s eyes open; they will open when ready.
Many babies are born with gray-blue eyes, but don’t be fooled, because the color is liable to change. You won’t know the true color of your baby’s eyes for several months, because it is only then that babies acquire melanin, the body’s natural pigment.
Nose
Another common feature among babies is a flattened nose. In time, heredity will take its course, and by the time they’re eight months to one year old, you will have a clearer view of what your baby’s nose really looks like.
Breasts
It is common for breasts, of both girls and boys to be swollen, due to the mother’s hormones passing through the placenta during the baby’s time inside the womb. This is nothing to worry about, and parents should not be alarmed if they find milky fluid leaking out. Do not squeeze the nipples; the milk will disappear in time, and squeezing could cause irritation.
Navel
The remains of the umbilical cord, which is the lifeline between the mother and her baby during pregnancy, will stay on your baby’s navel for one or two weeks after birth. It is a source of major concern to most parents, especially first-timers. The best way to deal with the umbilical cord is to keep it as clean and dry as you can. Fold diapers down so that it doesn’t get wet. You should also clean the stump with alcohol two or three times a day to keep it unsoiled, until it eventually drops off by itself. If the skin becomes red or oozes grayish-white fluid, you should call the doctor immediately.
Genitals Some parents are shocked by their baby’s swollen genitals. This swelling occurs in both girls and boys and is usually due to the mother’s hormones during pregnancy. Also due to this transfer of hormones, a baby girl may even experience bloody discharge from her vagina. Again, this is nothing to worry about.
Body Hair
Soft, dark lanugo hair on the newborn’s body is not unusual, especially if the baby is premature. It will disappear along with all the other oddities, but only after giving you this blind-date first shock to test your love for them.
Skin
A white, waxy material may coat your new arrival. This substance, called vernix, protects the skin from the amniotic fluid in the uterus. Most of it disappears after the baby’s first bath.
Red spots, especially on the face, or dark blotches scattered all over a newborn’s body are not uncommon. Both conditions are temporary.
If your baby’s skin starts to look yellow, it may indicate a mild form of jaundice. Contact your pediatrician, who will suggest treatment if your baby needs it.
Newborns have poor circulation, so one side of your newborn’s body or her hands and feet may suddenly turn blue. While alarming, this is usually nothing to worry about. Just turn your baby on to his/her other side or gently rub his/her body to get the blood to circulate through properly.
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