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Facts About Your Newborn
Caring for your baby
Breast Fed: Nurse 10–15 minutes on alternate breasts. Start with the breast last used.
The best stimulus for milk production is the complete emptying of the breast.
Formula: Use a formula with Iron. Give 2–3 ounces every 3–4 hours. You may refrigerate and reheat a half finished bottle once.
Water: You may offer boiled water (4oz with or without 1/4 teaspoon sugar) between feedings. Feed every 3–5 hours during the day. Do not awaken for feeding after 10:00 PM. If the baby cries, look for a cause- cramped position, gas, wet diaper, overheated or too cold. If none found, you may offer water up until 1 hour before the next feeding.
Navel: Apply alcohol with cotton or gauze every diaper change. When the cord falls off, a few spots of blood may be seen. At this time, stop the alcohol.
Bath: Sponge bathe with a soft washcloth until the navel is healed. After this time, tub bathe with mild non–scented baby soap. The water temperature should be warm to the touch. Do not poke anything into the ears, eyes, nose or mouth. A moisturizing lotion is optional, and not necessary.
Bowel Movements & Urination: Cleanse the diaper area and each fold as if it were alive with germs. Rinse out soap thoroughly. If there is a diaper rash, cleanse with baby oil. You may use A&D Ointment, Balmex (or similar ointment, or baby powder (not talc). Circumcision Care: Apply either A&D or Neosporin/Bacitracin Ointment until healing. Clean with soap and water with bathing.
Clothes: Do not overdress! If your infant perspires, they are overdressed. Put Cotton only next
to the skin. All clothing should be loose. The ideal room temperature is 70 degrees.
Outdoors: At 2 weeks in warm weather, and 3–4 weeks in cool weather. The weather must be above freezing. Never leave the baby outside alone. No Malls, parks, stores, parties for the first 6–8 weeks. Keep visitors to a minimum.
Normal Activity: Hiccups, sneezing, shivering when urinating, straining, grunting, and crying with gas and bowel movements are all normal. Startle to loud noises, and movement, temporary crossed eyes, occasional spitting up, and fussiness in the evening are normal.
Sleep position: on the back or right side only!
Cradle Cap: Massage with baby oil daily, and wash with shampoo every 2–3 days.
Vaginal Bleeding and Discharge: is normal at 4–6 days of age.
The Normal Newborn
The odd shaped molded head is due to it being squeezed during birth. The bones are not rigid,
and have a rubbery give. The soft spot is covered by a strong membrane, and stays open for
many months. The soft spot may pulsate, this is normal.
Hair on the head and body may be absent or in excess. It may fall out in a few weeks. It is also present on the back and down the forehead. This will change over time.
Infants see shadows only for the first few weeks. The blue eyes may change color within the first 6 months. Overflowing of tears indicate an obstruction of the tear duct which is common and usually clears up over time. Tears may not be present for a few weeks. The eyelids are puffy. Some babies will have a blood spot on the white of the eye. This disappears within a few weeks.
Nervous twitches and chin quivering as well as a startle reflex to loud noises and changes in position are due to immaturity of the nervous system.
Skin circulation is poor for several months, accounting for cold feet, mottled blotchy appearance and color changes. This does not mean the baby is cold. White heads around the nose and scalp is a normal newborn condition from blocked sebaceous glands. Scaling of the skin will also last for 2–3 weeks. Red blotches on the eyelids, forehead, nose and back of the neck are due to blood vessels which fade over time. An acne like rash is present in 20% of newborns, and this migrating rash can last for 2 months. A blue area called Mongolian spots around the buttocks and back occurs commonly in dark skinned people.
Weight loss (up to 10%) occurs due to water logged tissues, urination, bowel movements, and poor feeding for the first days of life. It takes 10–14 days to regain birth weight.
Maternal hormones circulate in the newborn baby’s blood and may cause enlarged breasts, bloody or a mucous vaginal discharge, swollen scrotum and vaginal lips. Girls may have skin tags protruding from the vagina. Both sexes can have anal skin tags commonly.
Spitting up is of no consequence unless it is persistent and the weight loss is excessive. Most babies spit up.
Uneven breathing occurs because of immature brain centers. They may even breathe quietly, then rapidly, and skip a few breaths. It takes several weeks for the breathing to become regular.
Snorting and snoring occur because of the small openings at the back of the nose and the flat nasal bridge. These sounds are much more pronounced on awakening, after crying or when the baby feeds. Sneezing is a response to mucus and dust and the cough is caused by the same mechanism. Hiccups are reflex responses to the slightest stomach dilation or irritation. They do not bother the baby; however, a small amount of warm water or formula will cause them to disappear.
The baby uses all his strength to pass gas and bowel movements. They grunt, turn red, cry and squeeze. They can take an hour to pass gas or have a bowel movement. A newborn can have a bowel movement with each feeding or one every other day. Occasionally one bowel movement will be loose. Frequent persistent watery stools especially of explosive nature should be reported.
Umbilical protrusions occur in one out of every four infants, and 99% disappear by three years of age. They do not need treatment, tape, coins, etc.
Most newborns do not take much of their feedings in the first few days of life. The breast milk does not come in for 3–4 days, so they are not prepared to take much milk. They appear very sleepy for the first few days. This is normal.
Crying is the baby’s only means of communication. It does not mean something is wrong. Many babies have a fussy period from 5 to 10 PM daily. Infants can sleep from 12 to 20 hours a day. Use this time to relax, and rest.
Above all, relax and enjoy your new baby!
