If you are a new parent then you must be undergoing an overwhelming amount of new experiences in a matter of days. Your baby is so delicate and cute. But he/she is also so much different from older children. You can hardly say what is normal and what is not. What do you feel? Can you make out what is normal and what is not? In the days after delivery, most visits to a pediatrician are due to concern in parents about something that is totally normal for babies. Here is a list of some such conditions.
1. Weight loss in the first week
It is normal for exclusively breastfed babies to lose up to 10% of birth weight in the first week of life, which the baby will regain by around the 10th day. When you get your baby’s weight measured within the first week and there is some decrease in weight, don’t be alarmed. However, if the weight loss is more than 10 percent, then consult your pediatrician.
2. Frequent passage of stools
Your baby may pass frequent stools if he/she is feeding on your breast milk. This is normal and quite common but is a frequent cause of concern in parents. If your baby is passing enough urine and looks well, don’t worry about it.
3. Vomiting and Gas
It is normal for babies to vomit (regurgitate) a small amount of curdled milk immediately after feeds. Sometimes the amount may be a bit more. However, this is very normal as long as your baby looks okay, and is gaining weight adequately, and passing urine enough times. Put the baby up against your shoulder for a little while and pat the back gently till your baby burps. This could decrease the amount of regurgitation and also decrease the problem of gas, which consists of mostly swallowed air.
4. Breast engorgement of the baby
The breast tissue of your baby, both boy and girl, may enlarge during the first few days after birth and is completely physiological. This is seen in 60-90% of all babies. Sometimes a little bit of liquid can also be expressed out which is traditionally called ‘witch milk’.
This condition occurs under the influence of the maternal hormones that are there in the baby’s blood and will resolve spontaneously over the next few weeks. There is nothing to be alarmed about it and you must leave it alone. Do not squeeze it. However, if it involves only one side, or if there is redness or is painful to touch, then you must consult your pediatrician.
5. Vaginal bleeding
Your baby girl may be bleeding slightly from her vagina on the 2nd or 3rd day. However, this is absolutely harmless and will stop within the next 4 days or so. This occurs due to the withdrawal of maternal hormones from your baby’s system. It is the same thing as bleeding when you have stopped using oral contraceptive pills.
6. Crying before passing urine
It is common for most babies to cry before passing urine. This is because of the uncomfortable sensation which happens due to a full bladder. Once they have started passing urine, this sensation subsides and your baby will stop crying. However, they may soon start crying again due to the discomfort of a wet nappy.
7. Straining before passing stool
Many parents complain that their babies strain while passing stool and cry. Your baby is not sure yet as to how to push things out. If your baby passes soft stool then there is no reason to worry. However, if your baby is formula-fed he/she may have hard stools. In case the stool is hard or you see blood in his/her stool then consult your pediatrician.
8. Rash
Most babies have a common type of rash call erythema toxicum. They are 1-2 cm red blotches with a raised pinhead-sized center occurring over the baby’s body and face. It is quite common and disappears on its own. However, if your baby has a pus-filled skin lesion then it is better to talk to your pediatrician about it.
9. Stork bites
A stork bite is a common type of birthmark usually seen in a newborn and triggers concerns in parents. It is also called a salmon patch. It is most often temporary. The medical term for a stork bite is nevus simplex. They occur in about one-third of all newborns and it happens due to stretching (dilation) of certain blood vessels. It may fade when you put pressure on it. There is no reason to worry about it as it disappears with time.
10. Dark patch over back (Mongolian Spot)
Many babies have a faint dark patch over their buttocks and lower back. This happens due to the excess melanin deposition on the deeper layer of the skin. This is absolutely normal and nothing needs to be done to it. As the baby grows older and the skin starts thickening further, it becomes invisible or barely invisible.
11. Jerky movements
Your baby may be showing some sudden jerky movements involving both hands and feet for a very brief period of time. Though these movements can keep recurring, yet they do not persist for a long time. If you notice carefully, babies may also show such response to some kind of stimuli such as sound or touch. This is called a startle response. Sometimes, the baby may also show such a response when they are falling asleep (benign sleep myoclonus). Both these conditions are totally normal and nothing needs to be done. If movements are persistent and look different, then it is better to consult your pediatrician.
This article aims to list some common problems so that if you as a parent are worried about something that is normal in babies, you can get a quick reassurance here. But do not take it as a replacement for medical advice. However, if you feel something is not right and are concerned about it, then it is better to take your pediatrician’s opinion. You may also want to see the article Ten Questions Most New Mothers Have In Mind. Let us know if this article was helpful. If you liked it, don’t forget to share.
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