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 disappear 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 10 of about 10.


ambermiracle - 397 days ago.
The frirst time I saw my son, Oh my god. I had delivered him and BAM they tossed him up on my chest. He was purple and sticky but dear god he was the most beautiful thing in the world. My baby boy was 9lbs and 5ozs and let me tell you he looked everybit the chunk little man. His eyes opened and he let out a little cry. It still wamrs my heart thinking about it. He is 19 months old now. <3

mommy2BApril26th - 845 days ago.
I absolutely cant wait to we see our little girl :) she has 88 days til she gets to come out and be in our arms :) im very excited

michellek87 - 846 days ago.
definitely worth reading for first time mums :) i cant wait to see my little boy. it must be horrible being stuck inside such a small place for so long i already want to comfort him :)

little-angel-to-be - 917 days ago.
it will be worth the whole nine months :)) im so anxious

kinta - 1267 days ago.
nawww such a wonderful moment! I remember feeling like it wasnt real, like she wasn't mine! And even the fact she had a name seemed so strange. I cant wait to meet my next baby! So much more exciting this time round, I know what to expect and I'm almost impatient!

adkinsrus07 - 1290 days ago.
Aw all nb's are gorgeous I mean some mom's might be like omg but think how would we look after spending almost a year in basically a hot sauna- lol

lola21 - 1290 days ago.
I just gave birth to my lil girl on Oct 2nd and it was amazing to see this human being you created come out of you..I fell in love with her!

youngmama - 1303 days ago.
Instead of turning me off of newborns it has made meso much more excited, especially the last bit about the refelx. Although it sounds like they only do it when they are unhappy it sounds just precious.

lisey-n-brees-mommy - 1462 days ago.
i fell in love with my lil guy at first sight he was beautiful

AdelynsMommy09 - 1465 days ago.
Oh, I can't wait to see my little girl for the first time!!

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