Even the most seasoned parents often find the appearance and behavior of their newborn strange and unusual--after all; he is a brand new person with his own likes, dislikes and quirks. By keeping realistic expectations about your newborn's appearance, and his eating and sleeping patterns, you can focus on your new baby without worrying too much about what is "normal."
Significance
Even though your newborn primarily sleeps and eats, she continues to grow physically, cognitively and emotionally throughout her first month of life. While she might drop a few ounces of weight after birth, according to Dr. Steven Dowshen of the KidsHealth website, expect her to re-gain her birth weight by 2 weeks and add about 5 ounces per week. She learns the sound of her mother's voice and she actively looks at faces--especially those of her parents and siblings.
Considerations
Expect your newborn's appearance to be less than picture-perfect--her scrunched-up body, puffy eyes and pointy head are souvenirs from childbirth and the time she spent in utero. Heidi Murkoff, the author of "What to Expect the First Year", offers reassurance that the fine hair covering your baby, known as lanugo, is normal, as is a swollen labia in a baby girl or scrotum in a boy. Most babies lose lanugo within a few weeks and the swelling usually subsides within a couple of days of birth.
Misconceptions
Newborns do sleep a lot--as much as 16 hours a day, according to Dr. Dowshen--but they rarely sleep more than 3 to 4 hours at a time. Due to their tiny tummies, which only hold minute amounts of formula or breast milk, babies wake frequently to eat. They also lack a clear distinction between night and day, leading them to wake as often at night as during the day. Dr. Dowshen cautions against allowing your newborn to sleep for extended periods without feeding since he needs to eat more than sleep at this stage of development.
Warning
If you lay your baby down abruptly or if she hears a loud noise or senses sudden movement, she might arch her back, fling out her arms and legs and cry out. Do not worry--while it looks like she is in pain or hurt, she is fine. This instinctive motion, known as the Moro reflex, is a normal reflex present in all healthy newborns until they reach 4 to 5 months of age, says Medline Plus.
Potential
As your baby grows older, expect him to cry more as he grows stronger and become more capable of communicating his needs to you. While many babies stop crying when you meet their needs, as many as 15 to 20 percent, according to Murkoff, develop colic. Colic involves a pattern of crying inconsolably for at least 3 hours a day--it usually starts around 3 weeks and ends by 3 months. Talk to your pediatrician if suspect your baby has colic--he can perform an exam to make sure your baby is healthy and then suggest coping strategies for the crying jags.
