A first look at baby I waited nine months to see this?

A First Look At Baby

The First Picture
Usually you only see the picture at the right, that's why some mothers think they gave birth to an alien. Don't worry, these two pictures are the same boy, with only a few hours in between.

Head
A newborn's head is not going to be perfectly shaped. It is going to be large in proportion to the rest of the body and just about as big as the chest. Since the baby's head had to mold to fit through the mother's pelvis during childbirth, the head will most likely be somewhat pointed or "cone" shaped. This too, will go away with time. If you need the assistance of foceps or a vacuum, the markings on the head could be somewhat more distinct. A newborn baby's bones are not fused together which makes it easier for delivery through the narrow birth canal. You will feel "soft spots" or fontanels on the top of the head for several months after your the birth of your baby.

Hair
Some newborns are born with a head full of hair, while others are born just about bald. Most babies do have a light covering of soft hair. Newborns do lose their first hair and it will be replaced with new hair. Newborns are prone to cradle cap. Cradle cap is a white flaking on the scalp, similar to dandruff, and it will go away on its own. Daily washing with soap and water is helpful. You can also use a small amount of baby oil and massage onto the scalp with a gentle brush. There are over the counter remedies for extreme cases. Because of the risk of infection, you should never pick at the scabs of cradle cap.

Eyes
Every baby will have antibiotic eye drops placed in their eyes at birth to prevent infection. This often causes swollen puffy eyes and will also dissapear in a few days.

Caucasian babies' eyes are almost always blue in color, even if this is not the color that they will be later on in life. Darker skin babies are generally born with brown eyes. You may also notice that your babies eyes don't always move together smoothly. This is normal and will be corrected on its own as the baby gains strength and coordination in the eye muscles.

Ears
The cartilage in a newborn's ears are very flexible and may cause the ears to look folded. It will probably straighten out on its own.

Mouth
If the baby did alot of sucking in the womb, there may be blisters on the upper lip as well as the fingers or hands.

Occasionally, a newborn is born with teeth. Sometimes they will fall out and sometimes the child's doctor will want to take them out so that the baby does not choke on them.


Nose
The mouth and nose are filled with mucus at birth. After the delivery, the doctor or nurse will suction the nose and mouth with a rubber syringe. Suctioning the nose and mouth will clear the airways and help the baby breathe.

Skin

A newborn's wrinkly, soft skin is something you will never forget. At birth, there is a coating called vernix caseosa that resembles cheese. Vernix caseosa serves as a protectant for the skin from the long exposure to jncvnthe amniotic fluid. The earlier the baby is born, the more coating they will have. There is also fine hair that covers the shoulders, back, forehead and temples of full term babies. This is called lanugo. This will usually all shed away the first week of life in full term babies. Due to the immaturity of the liver, some babies have a condition called jaundice that makes the skin have a yellowish tint.

10Rashes are vey common in newborns. Most of them are harmless and will go away with time. Newborns also get baby pimples, called milia. They are caused by maternal hormones and will go away on their own without treatment.

Birthmarks
Birthmarks are a fairly common condition in newborns. Babies of darker skinned complexions may have Mongolian spots. This is due to a bluish pigmentation under the skin and is generally found on the buttocks and lower part of the back. Stork bites are also fairly common. These are red, flat birthmarks usually found on the bridge of the nose, upper eyelids or on the back of the neck. These will generally go away in the second to third year of life. Hemangiomas are strawberry-colored birthmarks and will vary in size. These are not always present at birth. They generally fade to a grayish color and then dissapear entirely.

Genitals
Swelling of the genitals is common in both male and female newborns.

The breasts may also be swollen and can secrete a white or pink fluid referred to as "witch's milk". Many new parents find that their baby girls will have a milky-white or often blood tinged discharge in their diapers. This is all stimulated from maternal hormones and will disappear with time.

Abdomen
After the umbilical cord has been cut, a stump will remain. It needs to be kept clean and dry to help it fall off. If you notice a foul smelling odor or discharge, you should call your child's doctor.

Arms and Legs

The newborn can move its arms and legs quite well. They prefer to keep them flexed and close to the body. Extending the arms and legs may make the new baby feel insecure. You will notice a startle reflex, which could be caused by a loud noise or rough handling. A newborn baby will throw their arms and legs out, extend the neck and cry. They will then bring their arms and legs back to the body, but may still be quite upset.

Comments: A first look at baby

Comments 1 to 24 of about 70.
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beckym - 5 days ago.
My daughter, Felicity Rose, scored a 9 on her apgar, the only reason she didn't get a 10 was because her hands and feet had a purple color to them under the nail beds, which they said is normal for newborns and will go away very quickly which it did. She was 8 lbs 7 oz and 19 1/2 inches long, she is very beautiful! She has a big brother named Anthony who was very excited to have a baby sister. We are all home now, and it is quite a juggling act with 2 of them, but my son is 4 in a month and is a big helper with everything. Gotta go, hope everyone is doing great!

zachiel - 17 days ago.
when they broke my water, the nurse and doctor kept saying more towels, wow ive never seen so much water, still coming still coming and they were gigling, i had no pain at all, but i did feel a lot of water coming out

jamiesgirl - 19 days ago.
When my nurse broke my water it hurt so bad, but I got into a water birth tub right away and that made everything soooo much better because I didn't get any drugs or help of any kind- not even an IV of fluids. My big pain problem though wasn't the baby coming out- no the placenta with no bones being ripped from my body was like having a semi running me over! Anyone else feel that pain? Whole new kind of hurtin' there.

mizzsnazzy - 35 days ago.
When they broke my water, it hurt SOOO bad. I don't know why no one else felt this pain, but it was horrible.

tabathan - 37 days ago.
babygirl- My dr broke my water and that was not painful at all. (gross to sit there with water gushing out but having it done did not hurt). Being induced and recieving drugs can make the labor pains stronger that may be what your referring to. I was induced with my son and I made it through the whole ordeal allright! My baby's 6 months and I am ready for number 2! I was so scared before labor but I didn't find it to be so awful! My son was in the wrong position and it seemed to take forever to get him right but I never gave in and got the c section and I would do it all over again! Good luck sweetie.

preciousangels2 - 49 days ago.
The question about having the doctor break your water or it breaking on it's own, I don't think it matters. My water broke on it's own about an hour or so before I felt any contractions. I still had a painful labor. Even with an epidural, I felt every contraction and was still fairly uncomfortable. But, I've never had to have the doctor break the water so I don't know how that goes.

maky - 49 days ago.
I'm on my 3rd and I had to have the Dr. break my bag of water with my other two pregnancies. It isn't painful when they break it. It felt all warm and wet after it broke. The only discomfort is if you are having a contraction and they are checking your cervix. It isn't painful either though.

braenel - 52 days ago.
has anyone been told they were having a boy then had a girl? thanks?

ro - 52 days ago.
I've had 3 kids, with all, my water had to be broken. When they break the water it doesn't hurt. You don't feel anything but a gush of water coming out. Only thing that hurts is there darn fingers lol. It will feel like when they check you to see how much dialated you are. but doen't hurt when they have to break your water. As far as pain if your water is broken verses breaking on its own Seems the same to me. My sisters broke on her own and had both her kids natural and said it was very painful! I was there for her 1st birth, and ya she was in pain!

clarejustin - 52 days ago.
I'm pregnant with my first so I haven't given birth. But i've never heard of the labor being harder if the docter has to break your water. I did hear the process of the docter breaking the water hurts but doesn't mean your labor will be harder.

ro - 58 days ago.
babygirl: No thats not true, If you can handle pain well, then labor shouldn't be that bad. I can't so it was bad lol. My water was broken with all 3 of my childre. My sister's water has broken on its own with both her kids, and still pain full labor for her!

alicia1984 - 58 days ago.
I haven't had children yet, but was able to see a birth. The baby was born and they placed her on her mom's chest so the dad could cut the cord. The baby was in her arms for about a minute or two then the nurse took herover to a table to get cleaned up, APGAR scores were recorded, foot prints were taken, id bands were placed on, etc. While this was happening the doctor was busy helping the mom deliver the placenta. The mom was cleaned up and the birthing bed was put back together. The baby was put back in her arms for about an hour so they could bond then it was taken to the nursery to get weighed/measured/washed. I think when you have your own child you won't notice how it's not cleaned up. You'll be busy counting the fingers and toes instead thinking how amazing it is that you helped create a life.

babygirl - 59 days ago.
hello mummies, I have a question and any info would be great. I was told that if the midwife or doctor has to break you water's the birth is more painful than someone who's waters broke by themselves? Is this true?

ro - 59 days ago.
kay: thats funny cuz all 3 of my babys were clean to lol, and they also broke my water with all 3! lol

ro - 59 days ago.
Thank you all, for the comments on the diffrent pregnancys with diffrent sex's. Just want to let you all know My sister is having a boy!!! just as we predicted lol!! Well hope for anyway. Our pregancy's were exact same only with the oppisite sex's. My 2 boys pregancys were exactly the same, morning sickness for 5 months. My sisters pregnacnys were exact same with her 2 girl, lots of morning sickness. with my daugher last child pregancy was great, not much morning sickness, morning sickness came and went, didn't last, all was great, Now with my sister her 100% boy, same thing not much morning sickness and all is great for her too!

bonnieheather - 59 days ago.
kelly at the time you wont care you will just be glad its out its over and you are both safe.. i got a massive purple baby thrown on my chest and his testies looked MASSIVE and back the cord was still pulling between my legs and he was doing the star shaped reflex that babies have, and i was just glad it was over.. ten mins later i realised my £265 maternity vest from harrods was ruined. i think adrenaline is so high at the moment of birth nothing else matters. i mean nothing, people are walking in and out the room your legs are open lady v on full show. someone will be cleaning you up, a nurse will shout in if you want a cup of tea. it just doesnt matter, you are knackered you just gave birth! x

kayleighrobo - 59 days ago.
my babies came out clean with nothing on them maybe because they broke my waters for me???

kelly.m - 59 days ago.
I mean the 2 pictures of the same baby at the top of this page, the one on the left with blue hands and shite all over its face looks like somthing form a horror film but then the photo next to it is just adorable.

kelly.m - 59 days ago.
ap72403...... Thanks for the advice about asking them to clean up before they pass it to me. Maybe my view will change after I become a mum, at the moment im having difficukty understanding how peole can look at pictures of babies like that and think that they look cute. To me it looks awful, I know they really are cute after you wipe all the crap off them.

kelly.m - 59 days ago.
Why are they so ugly when they come out? How long untill they get cleaned up?

themonkeysmum - 62 days ago.
Both my pregnancies were completely different,,Morning sickness with second was worse than first. Backache with first was really bad but not so much with second .BOTH were BOYS!And today ages 6 n 2 they are still completely different personalitys lol

Annie - 63 days ago.
Hi, I have 5 little uns, and every single pregnancy was different, my first 3 were girls and my last was b/g twins, and boy was that different, mornin sickness from start to end, chronic spd, but it was well worth it.

riknlee - 63 days ago.
ro, I have been preg with 3 daughters and 2 sons and each preg has been the same. I dont get morning sickness, but I have heard that they can be diff regardless of the sex

ro - 64 days ago.
This question is for anyone who has more then 1 kid and diffrent sex. I was wondering if the pregnancy from one kid was diffrent from the other? like if you had a boy, and next pregnancy was a girl, was your pregnancy's diffrent? or even those who have the same sex, where your pregnancys the same or diffrent?

Jasmine-P - 66 days ago.
floresnewbaby - I have had this feeling, too. I knew that I needed to eat, but I just didn't want to. It started at about 9 or 10 weeks, too, now that I think about it. I had that same feeling over the weekend (14 weeks now), but I credit that to a bad cold that I've had. It's tough, but you've gotta eat otherwise you'll just be sick all the time. Try things like popsicles or smoothies to get some liquids. Sometimes adding a little flavor and texture helps. Also, and I know this totally sounds like a pregnancy craving, but eat pickles. For whatever reason, sweet pickles really hit the spot when I needed to eat but didn't want to. Hope this helps!


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