Weight loss
Head
Genitals
Spitting up and vomiting
Gas and colic
Body hair
Crossed or puffy eyes
Flaky scalp (cradle cap)
Jaundice
Blue feet and hands
Skin problems
Infected mouth (thrush)
Bowel movements
Colds and coughs
Ear infections
Fever
Weight loss
Newborns often lose seven percent to 10 percent of their birth weight during the first few days of life. With frequent feedings, they usually regain the weight by the time they are two weeks old.
The newborn's head
Your baby's head may be odd-shaped because of the birth process. The head will regain its rounded, smooth look within a few weeks. Babies are born with two soft spots on their heads, one on top and one at the back. These soft spots are areas where the bones of the skull have not yet grown together. They will close by the time your infant is 12 to 18 months old. It is not dangerous to gently touch the soft spots or to gently shampoo and brush your baby's hair.
Genitals
The mother's hormones can cause conditions in the baby that are normal and will go away without treatment. Babies of both sexes are sometimes born with swollen nipples, which may ooze small amounts of white liquid. Their genitalia are often swollen. With a wet diaper, you may see a red-orange ("brick dust") spot on the diaper. If your baby is a boy, he may have a swollen scrotum. It will return to normal in a few days..
Baby girls might have a white coating on their genitals. This is normal and does not need to be washed off. They may also have a clear, mucous-like discharge, again a result of the mother's hormones. When you bathe your baby and change her diapers, gently clean the vaginal area by spreading the labia and wiping from front to back.
If any of these conditions continue or if you are concerned, talk with your baby's doctor.
Spitting up and vomiting
Spitting up is very common for newborns. It is not a cause for concern unless your baby frequently spits up a large amount. Projectile vomiting or green or yellow vomit is not normal. Call your baby's doctor if you are concerned.
Occasionally babies will gag and appear to be choking on mucous or other fluid. If this happens, use the bulb syringe that you received from the hospital to suction your baby's mouth. to use, place the tip of the syringe inside the baby's cheek towards the back of the mouth.
Colic
Colic is the name for intense, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy, well-fed child. Colic affects approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of all babies. The bouts of crying usually last one to two hours or longer. Colic generally develops in the second or third week of life and is usually over by three months of age. This fussy crying is harmless for your baby.
The cause of colic is unknown. It is not usually caused by abdominal pain or excessive gas. A "colicky" baby can sometimes be soothed by motion (e.g., riding in an infant swing or in a soft front pack, or going for a ride in a car or a stroller), warmth, being held securely, sucking on a pacifier, being massaged or having a warm bath.
If the baby has been fed and changed and you have tried to console the baby using the methods listed above, you may place the baby in the crib and allow him or her to cry for 15 minutes. if the crying persists after 15 minutes, pick up the baby and try consoling methods again. It may take several 15-minute sessions before the baby falls asleep.
Notify your baby's doctor if:
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the cry seems to become a more painful one
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the crying lasts more than three hours
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the colic begins after your baby is one month old
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diarrhea, vomiting or constipation occurs
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the baby is inconsolable
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you or the baby's caretaker is exhausted or frustrated
Body hair (lanugo)
Your baby may be born with fine, downy hair covering his or her back, shoulders, forehead, ears and face. This condition is more common in premature babies. The lanugo will disappear within a few weeks.
Crossed or puffy eyes
The birth process and the medication used in your newborn's eyes to fight infection may cause the eyelids to look puffy. This should improve within a few days. Your baby may look cross-eyed because of undeveloped muscles. As the muscles strengthen, the eyes will begin to look normal.
Flaky scalp (cradle cap)
Scaly flakes, called cradle cap, may develop on your baby's scalp. Remove the flakes by gently scrubbing the scalp with a mild shampoo and soft brush every few days. Repeat until the flaking disappears.
Jaundice
Jaundice, a yellowish appearance in the skin and eyes, is caused by too much bilirubin. Many infants' livers are immature and cannot clean the bilirubin from the blood.
A small amount of jaundice is common in newborns, especially those who are premature. It usually appears on the second or third day of life and disappears within a week or two without treatment. Natural sunlight alleviates jaundice, and the baby may benefit from sleeping near a sunny window. If jaundice is severe, treatment may be necessary. Contact the physician if your baby becomes jaundiced after you leave the hospital.
Blue feet and hands
Newborns commonly have blue feet and hands because of immature circulation. This is a normal condition as long as the rest of your baby is warm and pink.
Skin problems
Skin abnormalities commonly occur in newborns. Most should cause no concern, require no special treatment, and disappear by themselves. They include:
- Milia: Small white spots on the face due to blocked sweat and oil glands
- Slightly transparent skin with purplish blotches (most common in babies with fair skin)
- Mongolian spots: a greenish-blue coloring on the lower back (present at birth, most common in infants with dark skin)
- Baby acne: a red, pimply rash
- Stork bites: visible blood vessels close to the skin on the back of the neck, eyelids or forehead
- Vernix: a white, creamy substance that protects the skin before birth and remains in the creases of the skin even after bathing
Skin problems that may require more attention include:
- Heat rash: tiny red bumps around the shoulders and neck that occur during hot weather or when babies get too warm. Keep your baby warm and dry, but don't overdress.
- Any other skin condition not listed above that concerns you. Call your baby's doctor.
Infected mouth (thrush)
If your baby has white, cottage cheese-like patches in his or her mouth, it is probably a yeast infection called thrush. This can be painful, so call the baby's doctor as soon as possible. If you are breastfeeding, you may need treatment as well.
Bowel movements
Your newborn will pass a dark, sticky substance called meconium for the first few days. Gradually the stools will become yellow with a green or brown tinge. Breast-fed babies usually have loose, seedy stools (up to 10 per day). Bottle-fed babies usually have fewer stools with a more pasty appearance.
As your baby gets older, bowel movements will become less frequent (as seldom as every few days). This is normal as long as the stool is soft and the baby is not straining too hard. It's common for infants to grunt and turn red when they are having a bowel movement.
Constipation is uncommon with breast-fed babies but more common with bottle-fed babies. Signs of constipation include hard, pebbly stools and abdominal pain.
Diarrhea consists of frequent, watery stools, often accompanied by a foul odor. If your baby has diarrhea or constipation, let the baby's doctor know.
Colds and coughs
Mild cold symptoms include runny nose, sneezing and congestion. Stuffy noses make it hard for babies to breathe and eat. To help your baby breathe, put a few saline drops in his or her nose, wait a minute, then use a suction bulb to remove the mucous. You can also use a cool water vaporizer in the baby's room. Elevate your baby's head by putting a pillow under the mattress, not under his or her head. Be sure to keep your baby warm. Call the doctor if fever, coughing or breathing difficulties develop.
Coughs can also be treated with a vaporizer. If breathing becomes labored or if the baby turns blue or drools, keep the baby upright. Call the doctor or 911 immediately.
Ear infections
Newborns' ears are highly susceptible to infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Symptoms include slight fever, irritability, crying and loss of appetite. Call the doctor immediately if you think your child has an ear infection.
Fever
Take your baby's temperatures under his or her arm unless your doctor instructs you differently. In a newborn, a temperature less than 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 Celsius) or more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) is cause for concern. Call the doctor immediately.
With lower fevers, watch for signs of ear infection or other serious illnesses. Call the doctor and follow his or her instructions for giving a non-aspirin liquid pain reliever.
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