Top Ten Newborn Questions, and Answers

Written by Jenn Gruen MD

Photo Credit: http://www.newbornbloodspots.org

1. Does my baby have a cold?

Many, if not most, newborns have a congested nose and frequent sneezing for the first month or so. Unless you see mucus coming from the nose, it’s usually not a cold. Unless your baby has difficulty with feeding due to nasal congestion, you do not have to use the nasal bulb syringe. In fact, if you use it frequently, you may irritate the nose linings and make the congestion last longer.

2. What about my newborn’s peeling skin?

It looks so dry—should I use lotion? This is normal – most newborns “peel like a snake” and this requires no treatment. If there is some cracking or excessive irritation around the ankles or wrists, you can lubricate with a little Vaseline or diaper ointment.

3. Should I worry if my baby is breathing funny?

Well, yes and no. Normal newborn breathing can seem strange. Sometimes they will stop breathing for a second or two and then breathe very quickly for several seconds. Sometimes they sound funny because they snort due to a congested nose (see #1).

Sometimes they make a high-pitched whistle when they breathe in due to a flexible windpipe (tracheomalacia). However, if you see very fast breathing (more than 70 times a minute) that persists, or if the baby has to work very hard to breathe, or you have worries about his or her breathing, don’t hesitate to contact us.

4. What if there is oozing or blood when the cord falls off?

A bit of yellowish wet gunk at the site of the cord that dries over a few days is normal, as long as the skin around the base of the cord remains normal color (if it becomes increasingly red, call us immediately).

You do not need to use alcohol. A few drops of blood on the diaper as the cord is falling off is also normal. If it bleeds a whole lot (which almost never happens), apply pressure to stop the bleeding and call us.

5. How many bowel movements are normal?

Breastfed newborns generally have 3 or more bowel movements per 24 hours by day 3 or 4. Formula fed infants generally have at least 1 bowel movement per 24 hours. But some infants can have up to 20 per day and still be normal! And normal breastfed newborn stool is extremely loose.

In an adult, this would be called diarrhea, but it is normal for a newborn. Formula fed stool tends to be more pasty. Any color from bright yellow to green to brown is normal. By age 3 to 6 weeks, the frequency of stool decreases (even once a week for a breastfed infant at this age can be normal as long as it is soft and passes easily).

6. Is the discharge from my baby girl’s vagina normal?

Yes, it may be clear, white or bloody, and it is from withdrawal from the mother’s hormones. You don’t have to wipe it away, but you can if you want to (top to bottom).

7. Is it normal for my nipples to hurt (for breastfeeding mothers)?

It is normal in the first week to have pain for the first 1-2 seconds of latch on, but if you have pain in the nipples beyond the first second or two, ask us about it.

8. Can my baby see me?

Baby’s sharpest vision is the distance from the breast to the face. Babies recognize their mother’s faces within a short time after birth. They can identify their mother’s breastmilk smell immediately, and will recognize the voices (and soon the faces) of close family that they heard talking while in the womb, like fathers or siblings.

9. Is it normal that my baby lost weight after birth?

Yes, most babies lose weight after birth and this is normal. We will tell you if we are concerned that the weight loss is too much.

10. When should my next appointment be?

Usually 1-2 days after you leave the hospital, we would like to see you back in the office to check your baby’s weight, color, and heart.

If your baby has a fever more than 100.4 rectally (only take temperature if baby seems warmer than usual), is irritable, lethargic or not feeding well, call right away. If your baby seems yellow other than the eyes/gums/face (i.e. chest/abdomen/legs), call us during office hours. Also call during the day if your infant is not having normal stool (see #5).

Have your baby sleep on the back or side. Make sure that your car seat is correctly installed and used, call 1-866-SEATCHECK or go to seatcheck.org for a free car seat checkpoint near you.

CONGRATULATIONS! ENJOY YOUR BABY

Dr. Gruen opened her practice, Village Pediatrics, in 2009, but prefers spending time creating fantastic kids birthday parties.