Key Facts About Newborns
- If they are well fed they can sleep up to 20 hours a day the first month of life.
- Sometimes they are born with a rash that makes them look freckled temporarily
- If they are close to or at full term they will shed their top layer of skin within a few days of birth
- The muscles around their eyes are weak and they, therefore, cross their eyes a lot and are unable to focus
- They often sleep the first 24 hours of life and feed very little
- They can lose up to 10% of their birth weight within the first few days of life and that is normal
- Most newborns have some jaundice ( yellowing of the skin,) and it is usually normal, your pediatrician will help you figure out if this is something to worry about.
- Baby girls sometimes have vaginal discharge, a mini period, and milk from their nipples!
- They all sneeze and hiccup a lot
- Their finger and toenails are very soft and raggedy
- The umbilical cord falls off within 1-2 weeks, and sometimes is smelly
- Their eyes can change color for the first six months of life
If you have any questions, the providers at MVP are always happy to to jump on a telehealth call to discuss.
