Your newborn’s looks may surprise you, but most mums still think theirs is the most beautiful baby in the world!
You may notice:
- The skin – may be spotty, patchy, discoloured or peeling; all normal for a newborn. It may also still be covered in ‘vernix’, the creamy white substance that coated his skin while he was inside you.
- Most newborns are also slightly jaundiced... Find out more.
- And some have birthmarks - there are lots of different kinds, here are a few.
- The head – may be a bit pointed due to ‘moulding’, where the skull bones overlap slightly during the journey down the birth canal. There can also be an area of swelling, called a ‘caput’, which settles after a few days.
- If your baby was delivered by forceps, you may also see small ‘forceps marks’ on each side of his head. Babies delivered with a ventouse or suction cap may have a round raised mark where the cap was placed. These marks all fade over the first few days. Occasionally there is a swelling, on one or both sides of the head (a cephalhaematoma).This needs no treatment and will usually disappear after four to six weeks.
- The cord – after it is clamped and cut, there will be a blue-white stump still attached to your baby’s tummy; it will shrivel up and drop off after about a week (see ‘Bathing your baby’ for more on cord care).
- The genitals – babies of both sexes may have slightly swollen breasts and genitals; the effect of your hormones still at work in the baby’s body, which will soon wear off. If your little boy looks rather well endowed, don’t worry, things will gradually get into proportion! Occasionally a baby boy will have an undescended testicle, which will be checked and monitored. It will usually descend later, but if not, a small operation may be needed. Sometimes baby girls have slight vaginal bleeding, which is quite normal, caused by high hormone levels at birth.
- The hair – you may be surprised to find your baby has a thick shock of hair... or none at all! Either is normal.
- The fontanelles - the bones of your baby's skull have not yet grown together. There are two soft spots in between called fontanelles which allow room for your baby's head to grow:
- a small triangular-shaped fontanelle where his head slopes backwards; normally closes by about sis weeks.
- a larger, kite-shaped, fontanelle toards the front of his head; normally closes by about 18 months.
