What Will My Newborn Look Like at First Glance?

You probably have visions of a robust bouncing baby, but in reality many newborns are tiny, wet creatures when they first emerge. Often their heads are slightly pointed as a result of passing through the birth canal. This is only temporary — the head will take on a rounded appearance within a few days. It may also surprise you that a newborn's head is quite big compared with the rest of the body.

Your baby also may look wrinkled since the legs and arms have been kept bent at the knees and elbows while in the womb. After months of growing in ever-tightening close quarters, this is perfectly normal. The limbs will straighten out as your baby grows.

If you look at your baby's tiny fingers and toes, you will notice the paper-thin — and sometimes long — nails. Speak with your doctor or the nurses at the hospital to learn how to trim them so that your little one will not hurt him/herself.

Your baby's skin may have one of several possible appearances, looking somewhat red, pink, or purple at first. Some babies are born with a white coating called vernix caseosa, which protects their skin from the constant exposure to amniotic fluid in the womb. The vernix is washed off with the baby's first bath. Other babies are born very wrinkled. And some, especially premature babies, have a soft, furry appearance because of lanugo, a fine hair that develops while in the womb. Lanugo usually comes off after a week or two.

Rashes, blotches, or tiny white spots also are common on newborns. These generally clear up over the first few days or weeks after birth. The doctor will examine your baby within the first 12-24 hours of birth and make sure that any rashes or spots are normal.

Remember, your baby's appearance will change dramatically over the next weeks as he or she grows. The limbs will extend, the skin tone will probably change, and the blotches will disappear.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the development or appearance of your baby, please schedule an appointment with your doctor by calling +91-78999-30207.

(Article Sourced from: http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_center/childbirth/first_day.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle#)