Basics About Your Newborn’s Body

For the past nine months, you’ve been getting ready for your baby’s arrival. But now that you’re bringing home your bundle of joy, you’re a little worried. How will you ever remember everything you learned about what to expect in those first few weeks?

“There’s an overload of well-meaning sources—grandparents, friends, relatives, tons of parenting books, and Web sites,” says Paul Horowitz, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Even the best-prepared parents may be surprised by a few things that are quite normal in newborns: 

Birthmarks

These common spots and stains may be present at birth and are usually harmless. Many eventually disappear on their own. 

• Stork bite or nevus flammus. This is seen on the forehead or on the back of the neck, or both. This mark almost always disappears as the child grows.

• Mongolian spot. This mark, which may look like a bruise, appears over the lower back and upper buttocks on darker pigmented babies. This spot frequently disappears by age 5 or 6.

• Congenital nevus. This is also called a mole. Moles do not disappear and may grow larger over time.

• Port wine stain. This is a red to purple mark that may appear anywhere on the body, but frequently on the face. This mark tends to grow larger over time.

Blood

It’s not uncommon to see a tiny bit of blood in your daughter’s diaper for the first couple of weeks. This tiny bit of vaginal bleeding is a response to the withdrawal of maternal hormones now that she’s not in the womb.  

Breasts

Mom’s hormones that are still in your baby’s system may cause breast tissue to grow slightly, in both girls and boys. These lumps may last for a few months but then should go away.  

Cord color

You’ve probably been told that your baby’s umbilical cord stump will fall off on its own. But, did you know it will turn yellow and then brown or black first? 

Rapid breathing

Healthy newborns average 40 breaths a minute; adults take 12 to 18. An infant’s breathing may pause for up to 10 seconds. Then, he resumes breathing.   

Rashes

Tiny white bumps, or milia, on your baby’s face will go away in a few weeks. Scaly whitish patches on the scalp, known as cradle cap, usually are gone in a few months. 

Soft spots

The two soft areas on your baby’s head are known as fontanels. They’ll be there until the bones in the skull knit together. When your child cries, they may bulge. The soft spots may pulse along with his heartbeat.  

Odd movements

Newborns’ bodies are ruled by reflexes. So, your baby won’t be able to control most movements very well for the first few months. Her chin, arms, or legs may seem shaky, especially when crying. 

If you feel your child is ill or if something just doesn’t seem right, call your health care provider. “We would much rather answer a question than have a bad outcome because you didn’t feel comfortable asking us about something,” says Dr. Horowitz.