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If you've never seen a newborn baby,
you're in for a surprise! Brand-new babies aren't as bright, alert, and
handsome as picture-book babies. If you have not been given a general
anesthetic at the time of delivery, you'll see your baby before the
nurses have an opportunity to bathe him. The first thing you'll notice
is that his skin is a little blue. His color will improve as soon as
the mucus has been adequately aspirated from his nose and throat, and
his lungs have expanded. He'll also be covered with a white, waxy
material— a temporary protective covering for his tender, sensitive
skin. If you do not see the baby until after the nurses have cared for
him, you'll notice that his lips, nail beds, and hands are still
slightly blue. His eyes will probably be closed, and chances are he
won't take the slightest interest in what's going on around him. His
head may be misshapen with lumps or protrusions on one side or the
other. But don't worry, by the time you leave the hospital, his head
shape will have improved and will be a little more like you expected.
You'll also notice that your baby's feet and legs are in peculiar
position due to his position when he was in your uterus. His legs will
also be quite bowed, but time takes care of all these "abnormalities."
If there is anything that requires orthopedic care, your doctor will
tell you.
Doting friends and relatives will be a big help at this time. After
listening to everyone telling you how beautiful your baby is, you'll
soon see it too. By the time you are ready to leave the hospital,
you'll hardly even notice the tremendous improvement in your little
one's alertness and general appearance. This is because it is terribly
difficult to see any improvement in perfection!
Birth registration
Generally, your doctor fills out and
files the birth certificate. In many states, it is compulsory this be
done within a certain number of days after birth. Obtain a copy of the
birth certificate and keep it in a safe place to insure its
availability whenever needed. In most states, a copy of the certificate
is mailed to the parents. Make sure all the information is correct.
Circumcision
If your doctor elects to circumcise your
boy, it will probably be done between the 1st and 4th day. In
circumcision, the moveable fold of skin which covers the end of the
penis is clipped away. There are several reasons for this.
The first, and most obvious, is that it is an aid to cleanliness. The
second reason is that it has been shown that men will not develop
cancer of the penis if they have been circumcised at birth. Third, the
incidence of cancer of the cervix of women whose husbands have been
circumcised is less than those whose husbands have not been
circumcised. Finally, as your son grows older, he will want to be like
other boys, most of whom will have been circumcised.
However, some doctors are opposed to circumcision. This is usually
because the incidence of cancer of the penis or cervix affects
relatively few persons and, therefore, he feels surgery on every baby
is unwarranted.
If a circumcision is not performed, your doctor will give you the
necessary instructions for cleansing under the foreskin.
The following pages will
provide you with some newborn tips:
New motherhood
New
sibling
Nursing newborn
Breastfeeding technique
Breastfeeding problems
Newborn feeding - formula-feeding baby
Milk (baby formula)
Methods of bottle disinfection
Baby's formula preparation methods
Baby's feeding schedule at home
Baby bottle-feeding method
Vitamins for babies
Baby's bowel movements
Baby's diaper care
Fold cloth baby diaper - how to
Baby's bath
Baby's body care
Give baby a sponge bath - how to
Give baby a tub bath - how to |