What’s normal and what ’s not?

That teeny tiny body can raise some really big questions! First time parents often expect their newborns to look instantly like picture-book cherubs. Surprise, surprise… they often come out wrinkly, skin of a strange color, all puffy with their heads misshapen. We love them no less, but here’s a rundown of what makes newborns look more strange than cute. Some may even worry if their baby is normal.

Head

If you have had a vaginal or normal birth, do not be alarmed if your child’s head is shaped like a cone. Passing through the narrow birth canal does that to a newborn’s skull which is still soft and movable.

Don’t worry and let nature take its course. Your newborn has two areas on her head, known as soft spots or fontanels, where the bones haven’t joined yet. The larger, diamond-shaped area on the crown stays there until about 18 months, while a much smaller, triangular soft spot on the back of the head usually disappears between 2 and 6 months. The larger fontanel should be flat or slightly depressed when the baby is held upright. Because the brain is also protected by a thick, sturdy membrane, you can gently wash and comb the hair over this area.

You may also notice some bruising or swelling of the scalp, particularly if forceps or vacuum extraction were used. In time, these should heal.

Call your doctor if the large soft spot is deeply sunken accompanied by dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea. A bulging fontanel also warrants a doctor’s visit to rule out meningitis.

Skin

Newborn skin is typically mottled especially when she’s cold. Her hands and feet also appear reddish in the first 2 or 3 days.

Yellowish skin indicates jaundice which happens to about 60 percent of normal newborns. The yellowish pigment comes from an oversupply of bilirubin. Babies make too much bilirubin when their liver is still not mature enough to clear it all away. Jaundice usually crops up after 3 or 5 days then resolves itself with some morning sunlight after about another week. Treatment may be needed, but that is something your pediatrician should asses.

Call doc is your baby’s lips or face turns blue during crying. Sometimes, persistent blueness can be a symptom of a heart abnormality or other illness. Consult a doctor right away.

Breasts and Genitals

Male and female newborns tend to have swollen breasts and genitals. Again, nothing to worry about — it’s just an effect of mom’s hormones still circulating in baby’s body. After a few weeks the swelling will disappear.

Those pregnancy hormones may also cause a baby girl’s labia to swell for a few days after birth. Vaginal discharge, sometimes even some bleeding can happen.

There are also instances when baby boys are born with undescended testicles. This means, their testicles have yet to drop into their scrotum. This tends to happen to premature boys. After a few months this usually normalizes. If after a year they haven’t dropped, hormonal treatment or surgery can be discussed with your doctor.

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