Characteristics of Newborn Babies
When bringing home a newborn baby for the first time, parents may not know what to expect. Although babies tend to differ significantly from one another, certain characteristics deviate little from newborn to newborn. First-time parents should learn to identify what is normal from those abnormal signs to find peace of mind. Much of what you observe in a newborn will fade over time once the baby adaps to life outside the womb.
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Measurements
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Newborns should weigh between 5 1/2 and 10 lbs. The average newborn length ranges from 19 to 21 inches. At birth, nurses also measure the circumferences of the baby's head and chest, which should average 12 to 14 inches and 12 to 13 inches, respectively.
Head and Face
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When a newborn passes through the birth canal, the head may become lopsided and the face may appear bruised or swollen; this is known as moulding. The head gradually takes on a more normal appearance, usually within days, but definitely within a week. The baby's head will also contain a few soft spots at the back and on top of the head called fontanels. Fontanels are areas of the baby's skull that have not fused together yet. By the time your baby is 18 months old, the skull should have fused completely, and you no longer should feel any soft spots.
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Hair and Skin
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Immediately after birth, infants appear a deep red or purple color, but will change to a brighter red color as they start breathing oxygen. This redness grows fainter after the first day. A thick, creamy substance called vernix initially covers the baby's skin. Mongolian or bluish spots appear on the back sides of darker-skinned infants. Other skin conditions such as acne or reddish tinges fade shortly after birth.
Some babies have massive amounts of soft, fine hair while others hardly have any. A layer of hair called lanugo covers the faces and upper bodies of certain infants.
Umbilical Cord
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The umbilical cord, made of three blood vessels, connects a baby to his mother. At birth, the obstetrician clamps the cord close to the baby's navel and cuts it. An antiseptic applied to the cord prevents infection.
At home, exposing the cord to air -- but not water -- will avert infection. Signs of infection include accumulation of pus or blood emanating from the cord, and reddening, swelling or pain in the area. The cord dries up and falls off within several weeks.
Feeding Schedule and Sleeping Patterns
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Newborns sleep close to two-thirds of the day, interspersed with waking periods for feedings, and tend to wake every few hours to feed. You can establish a more predictable and convenient sleeping pattern for your child by holding her close until she becomes sleepy or playing her soothing music.
Wriggling, stretching and sucking motions are early indications your baby is hungry; crying occurs later. After your newborn is full, she will avoid the nipple or clamp her mouth shut. You are feeding your baby well as long as she gains weight steadily, urinates often and has healthy, supple skin. Your baby eventually sets her own schedule for feedings. Once your newborn adjusts to sleeping patterns and feeding times, she will wake less during the night.
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References
- University of Kansas; Birth and the Newborn Baby; Dennis H. Karpowitz
- Wright State University: Help for Pregnant Students
- Rush University Medical Center: Health Information -- Newborn Appearance
- Rush University Medical Center: Health Information -- Umbilical Cord Care
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh: The Growing Child -- Newborn
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
