Just Baby
Newborn Appearnce
What does a newborn look like?
Parents often dream of what their new baby may look like, thinking about a pink, round, chubby-cheeked and gurgling wonder. It may be surprising for many parents to see their newborn the first time - wet and red, with a long head, and screaming - nothing at all like they had imagined.
Newborns have many variations in normal appearance - from color to the shape of the head. Some of these differences are just temporary, part of the physical adjustments a baby goes through. Others, such as birthmarks, may be permanent. Understanding the normal appearance of newborns can help you know that your baby is healthy. Some of the normal variations in newborns include the following, and are explained below:
- Colour
- Moulding
- Vernix
- Lanugo
- Milia
- Stork bites
- Mongolian spots
- Erythema toxicum
- Acne neonatorum "baby acne"
- Strawberry hemangioma
- Port wine stains
- Newborn breast swelling
Color
A baby's skin coloring can vary greatly, depending on the baby's age, race or ethnic group, temperature, and whether or not the baby is crying. Skin color in babies often changes with both the environment and health.When a baby is first born, the skin is a dark red to purple color. As the baby begins to breathe air, the color changes to red. This redness normally begins to fade in the first day. A baby's hands and feet may stay bluish in color for several days. This is a normal response to a baby's immature blood circulation. Blue coloring of other parts of the body, however, is not normal.Some newborns develop a yellow coloring called jaundice. This may be a normal response as the body rids excess red blood cells. However, it may indicate a more serious condition, especially if the yellow color appears in the first day and worsens. Laboratory tests may be needed to assess jaundice.