NEWBORN SURPRISES: How Babies Look And Behave During Early Days Period
Author: Dr. Arun Gupta.
M.D. New born & Child specialist
Ph-27495603, 27477030, 9811106056
Babies at birth may not look as you might have imagined. Their head shape may
look odd. There skin may have some sticky substance. Eyes may be puffy. It may
have some red marks as well. Don’t be dismayed. These are normal for the baby.
And with time, these will change to the expected features.
As your baby grows during the initial weeks, you will find many events, which
may seem alarming and cause lot of anxiety. But, most of these are normal and
with passage of time disappear and require no treatment. Some of the events
are:
Head
Eyes
Skin
Breasts
Genitals
Stools
Urination
Sneezing
Regurgitation of milk
[vomiting]
Jaundice
Head
-
May look little elongated. This due to birth pressure
and should look normal in two weeks. -
There could be soft boggy swelling ,over the head, which
pits on pressure. It is due to compression around the presenting part
of the head, during the delivery. Called ‘ Caput’ it usually disappears
in 2- 3 days. -
At
times, swelling over the head may be due to leaking of blood, under the
outer covering of the skull bone. Its well defined ,soft and mostly
on one side of the head, over one of the skull bone. Called ‘Cephalhematoma’
usually disappears in 6-8 weeks. -
There
is a soft spot, on the top of the head called ‘fontanel’, here bones of
the head have not joined yet. Its size is variable and it pulsates with
heart beat. It takes about 12 to 18 months to fill this spot. One
must consult doctor, if it closes before six months or remains open after
2 years of life.
Eyes
-
Eyelids are puffy [swollen] at birth due to pressure of birth. This swelling
will disappear in couple of days. -
Watery
discharge from one or both eyes is normal during initial months. This is
due to blockage of duct responsible for drainage of secretions from the
eye. Consult your doctor if secretion turns yellowish, which could be due
to infection. -
Red
spot in the eyes, over white portion is due to leaking of small amount of
blood. It may look alarming, but is totally harmless and
will disappear in 4 to 6 weeks.
Skin
-
Red
colored spots and rashes appearing on second or third day are very
common. Starting from face they may spread and involve whole of the
body. No treatment is required and they disappear in next couple of days. -
Scaling
and peeling of skin especially on the hand and feet is common and
clears in few days. -
Blue
colored spots over lower back and extremities are virtually seen an all
babies. Termed as ‘ Mongolian spots’ are of no significance they usually disappear
between 12- 18 months. -
Red
colored birthmarks called stork bites seen over eyelids, forehead and back
of the neck; take about one year to go. -
Strawberry
like birthmarks, tend to increase initially but eventually disappear by
the child is five. -
Milia
are white or yellow pinhead spots seen on the nose are due to retention
of secretions; disappear spontaneously.
Breasts
One or both breasts may become
swollen around 4th day. Little milk may also come out. Perfectly
normal condition. Swelling disappears in about 2 weeks. Never try to squeeze
or massage.
Genitals
In baby girl, bleeding from vagina,
may occur third day onwards; usually disappears by 7th day.
In baby boys, skin around the
tip of the penis is adherent and non-retractable, which may persist for 2 to
3 years. Do not try to retract it forcibly.
Stool
-
A
newborn baby should pass stool within first 24 hrs. -
After
that stools for first two days are dark green and sticky called meconium. -
3rd day onward color becomes yellowish, semisolid to watery in consistency and
there is a tendency to pass stool after every feed. They may pass stools
upto 15-20 times a day. This is quite normal and termed as transitional
stool. No treatment is required. -
On
the other hand, some babies do not pass daily, some may even pass at the
interval of 5 or 6 days. As long as baby is active , accepting feeds regularly,
passing urine frequently and his abdomen is not unduly distended there is
nothing to worry.
Urination
-
Most babies pass urine within 48 hours of birth.
-
After
about a week, urine frequency increases, it may go
upto 20 times a day, but it should not be less than 6 times
in 24 hours. -
Babies
usually look uncomfortable or cry just before passing urine. This is a normal
reaction from feeling of distended bladder. -
Watch
out – if baby dribbles, has thin stream of urine or has excessive cry during
urination. It could be due to some obstruction. Consult your pediatrician.
Sneezing
Most newborn babies sneeze ,
they do it in all kind of weathers. Sneezing is not a sign of cold. They
do it to clear respiratory passage of mucus and secretions. It’s a sign of good
health so one should not worry.
Regurgitation of milk [vomiting]
-
Most
newborns have a tendency to throw out small amount of fresh or curdled milk
especially after the feeds. This occurs due to a condition called aerophagia
where babies swallow air while taking feeds. When this air comes out it
brings some milk with it. Condition is aggravated, when baby is on bottle
feeds and size of bottle teat is too small or too large. -
As
long as baby is active, accepting feeds well, passing urine adequately and
gaining weight properly there nothing to worry. -
Proper
burping after each feed is the best remedy to prevent excessive vomiting.
To burp one should hold baby in lap or against the shoulder and tap her
back gently for about 5 minutes. If he doesn’t burp don’t try too hard ,
baby may not require it. After burping, place baby in right lateral posture
with head slightly above the body.
But watch out
-
Vomiting could be indication
of serious underlying problem if; -
Vomiting is forceful
-
Is associated with abdominal
distention -
Vomitus is of green color
Jaundice
-
Yellowish discoloration of eyes and body.
-
Starts on 2nd or 3rd day of the life.
-
Increases till 5th to 7th day and than gradually
subside by 11th to 14th day of the life. -
Mostly It’s a harmless condition called “physiological jaundice”.
-
Occurs due to elevation of a substance in blood called bilirubin.
What is to be done:
-
Usually no treatment is required, but consult your pediatrician.
-
No role of sun exposure.
-
Its not caused by eating yellow colored foodstuffs like papaya or mango.
-
It has no relation to
wearing yellow clothes. -
No need to keep the
household tube lights on.
But jaundice could be dangerous
if:
-
Appears within 24 hours or after 72 hours of birth.
-
Persists beyond 2 weeks of age.
-
There is intense yellow staining of abdomen, thighs or sole.
-
Urine is dark colored or, stool is pale or white in color.
-
Baby is lethargic and not taking feeds.