Newborn baby with whiteheads and other oddities
Blotchy skin, wrinkles and strawberry marks. Learn to read the signs of a newborn’s skin and know what and what not to worry about.
He may look like Mr. Potatohead with all his wrinkles and blotches, but when a new mom gazes at her newborn baby for the first time, it will be love at first sight.
There are a lot of things you will notice about your baby than just checking to make sure he has all fingers and toes!
Birth marks
At birth, it is normal for a baby to appear bluish, as oxygen from the lungs has yet to reach his bloodstream. He may also have patches of dry skin or still be covered with vernix — the greasy, white substance that protected his body from the amniotic fluid inside the womb.
In the first few weeks, you may also notice minor blemishes on your baby’s skin. These are usually harmless and require no immediate treatment. Most of them will disappear in a few month’s time. Some common blemishes that may appear:
- Milia, which are tiny white spots on the baby’s face (like whiteheads), cause by blocked oil glands.
- Stork marks or bites, which are red in color and can be found on the neck, nose or eyelids.
- Strawberry marks, are raised red marks, which may grow rapidly in the first few weeks but should disappear by your baby’s sixth month or so.
- Nettle rash, usually disappears in a month’s time, and is characterized by a raised white center surrounded by an inflamed red area.
- Port wine stains, which are reddish purplish marks on the face and neck, however, are permanent and will require treatment when the child is older.
It is also normal for babies to have discharges at this early age. This is due to an increase in female hormones from the placenta and affects both baby boys and girls. Possible symptoms could be enlarged genitals, swollen breasts, a milky discharge from the breasts, or a vaginal discharge for baby girls. These to will disappear in a few weeks time.
Senses and sensibilities
A newborn baby will be able to focus on items 20-30 centimeters away (i.e., from the breast to your face) and distinguish shape and color, although not very clearly.
His hearing, however, is a good as an adult’s. He will prefer rhythmic noises, as well as the familiar sound of his mother’s voice and heartbeat. He will, however, have a low hearing threshold so although he may sleep happily through a constant loud sound like a blaring television or radio, he will be startled by a sudden noise.
A newborn baby will also be sensitive to taste and smell, and can detect sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes. Mother Nature made sure babies are born with a number of reflexes essential for survival. Examples are the rooting reflex or automatic searching for his mother’s nipple, and the grasping relfex, which is demonstrated in a very strong grip.
All babies are also born with ability to suck, swallow and gag as they can feed as soon as they are born. Hiccups and snuffles are also normal as your baby learns to breathe through his nose. And because he is sensitive to bright light, which also stimulates the nerves on the nose, you will find him sneezing a lot too. This is perfectly normal and healthy as sneezing clears the nasal passage and prevents dust from getting into your baby’s lungs.
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