Paediatric Examination

In the baby's first few days, he will receive a full paediatric examination (usually from the hospital paediatrician). Usually this examination takes place in the hospital before discharge, but it can take place after discharge.

The examination is a general examination covering all the baby's body but concentrating on the heart, eyes and hips. Occasionally, the hips can be dislocated (Click Hip) and this will require corrective action. This is more common in girls.

Apgar score

After a baby has been born, they are assessed to obtain their Apgar score. The following are assessed on:

Breathing
Colour
Activity
Heart rate
Muscle tone
Each one is scored 0-2 after one, five and ten minutes. This gives a total value out of 10. Most babies score 7 or over. Babies who score 5 or below are usually placed on a resusication trolley, where oxygen is given and suction is used to clear mucus from the air passage. This treatment usually only lasts a few minutes

Vitamin K

Babies are given a vitamin K injection (or orally) after birth. Vitamin K is important in controlling bleeding. Babies have a deficiency in this vitamin, which helps prevent 'haemorrhagic' - a bleeding disorder which affects some babies.

Baby Appearance

Newborn babies can often look different than what you expected, you may notice some irregularities but don't worry there are certain irregularities which are normal.

Baby's Skin

Your Baby's skin will probably be covered in a creamy substance vernix. This protects the baby in the womb. This substance can be cleaned off or left to come off gradually. Overdue babies may have dry or cracked skin, but this will return to normal.

Birthmarks

Many babies have a naevus or birthmark when born. They are usually found on the eyelids, nose or neck. They will fade over time. Some babies have Strawberry marks due to dilated blood vessels. Port wine stains are visible from birth and are permanent, although they can now be successfully treated with laser therapy.

Head Shape

Your baby's head shape may look a little unusual after birth. This is caused by the pressure on the head as the baby moves down the birth canal. The baby may also have a lump if a vacuum delivery used. The baby's head can change shape because the skull bones are not fully joined and can overlap. The head will return to it's normal shape within a few days. There may be a swelling at the back of the head - caput or a cyst like swelling - cephalhaematoma, this may take a few months to disappear.

Baby's Eyes

Most babies have blue-grey eyes after birth, but the colour can change in the coming weeks and months. If your baby has any discharge from their eyes, contact your doctor. When bathing the eyes use cotton wool balls moistened in cool boiled water. Rub from the inner corner outwards. Use a different cotton wool ball for each stroke.

Umbilical Cord

When born, the umbilical cord is still attached to the baby and the placenta. It is clamped and cut just after birth. A stump is left where the cord was attached to the baby. This will shrivel and seperate within a week or two. You should keep this area clean until the stub falls off.