What does a newly born baby look like?

The Triumphant Mom - 22 June, 2010

What exactly does a just born baby look like? Is all that mess and goo really normal? Are you sure this one is really mine? Well, maybe your questions aren’t really that dramatic but the very first appearance of a newborn baby can be a bit unsettling unless one knows exactly what they really do look like! Expectation may be that the new baby should be soft, cuddly and with smooth, neat and clean skin, rosy cheeks, and a nicely rounded head. That may soon come, but for now things are a bit different.

new baby: baby just born covered in vermix

This baby is 'minutes old' and covered in vernix

• Most new babies are covered with a mixture of blood, mucus and a cheese like substance called vernix.
• Depending on the length and pressure of labor, your baby’s head may be somewhat elongated, almost cone shaped. Sometimes, due to the forces of labor and the pressure of the birth canal, a collection of fluid can build up under the scalp, called a caput.
• Babies who are born “head first” may have bruising to the face and chest. Babies can also be born with raised soft bruises on their scalp, especially with a forceps or vacuum extraction assisted delivery.
• Babies who are born in the breech or "bottom up" position often will have bruising of the buttocks and may have swelling of the genitalia as well."
• You may note that the skin of the hands and feet is wrinkled and at times even peeling. A newborn’s hands and feet can also appear bluish if they get a bit cool. This discoloration called ‘Acrocyanosis’ is normal as long as the rest of the body and mouth are pink.
• Body hair or lanugo is fine downy hair that may be present on the backs shoulders and arms of newborn babies. This usually disappears between 2-4 weeks, but can last longer.

Lanugo - this baby has fine hair growing on her back and arms - Lanugo is more common in premature babies.

newborn appearence

• The genitals on both boys and girls may appear swollen. 
• Girls will have a thick white mucus covering the opening of their vagina that helps to prevent infection and irritation.  This is normal and does not need to be vigorously cleaned out.  In the first weeks of life, it is even normal for girls to have a small amount of vaginal bleeding. This is a response to maternal hormones.
• Your baby may be born with lots of hair on their head or hardly any hair at all. This hair is temporary, with the permanent hair appearing at around 6 months. The color of newborn hair does not reflect the color of permanent hair. Most babies are born with dark hair.
• Eyes may be swollen and puffy because of the pressure on the face during delivery. There may also be tine blood spots in the whites of the eyes due to increased pressure on the head during delivery. These are completely harmless and will disappear within three weeks.
• The breasts may be swollen in both male and female babies. This is caused by hormones passed onto the baby through the placenta. The breasts may even leak a few drops of milk. This usually lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.

All of these variations in appearance will gradually change and by the first week of life, the normal features you expected your baby to have will most likely be there. The bruising will have disappeared and the shape of the head will look more or less like that of the rest of the family. Your baby’s skin will start to become softer and smoother and have a more even tone.

One more word about skin however. The new environment your baby now lives in is much drier and subject to changes in temperature. Because of this, the skin may respond with a variety of bumps and variations in color and almost all of these will make you wonder if they are normal or are some dread condition. Be assured that almost all are normal and will resolve in time.

So, yes, your new baby does look new and may appear to be a bit messy. It will not be long before the image you have of what she should look like will appear. In the meantime, the newborn characteristics outlined will help you as you adjust to the appearance of this long awaited stranger in your life.

Tip – Take as many photos as you can in the first few days – you will be amazed how much your baby will change even in one week!

By Dr. Olson Huff - Co-editor of Caring for your newborn - How to enjoy the first 60 days as a new mom.

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