| The head is the largest part of the infant's body at | | | | The newborn liver is not as capable of handling the |
| birth. As such, it frequently shows signs of damage | | | | normal waste products of human red blood cells as is |
| from its passage through the birth canal. Infants often | | | | the adult liver. |
| have a circular swelling on the back of their heads | | | | This causes certain amount of jaundice for the first |
| where a beanie or a yarmulke might rest. | | | | few days of life. An extremely high level of jaundice |
| This swelling, known as caput succedaneum, results | | | | can be a problem. If you are concerned about jaundice |
| from the child's head pushing against the mother's | | | | after you go home from the hospital, call your doctor |
| pelvis during labor. It generally disappears within 2 or 3 | | | | promptly. Sunlight is beneficial in reducing the amount of |
| days. Another type of swelling that may appear in the | | | | jaundice in newborns, but use caution because infant |
| same area is a cephalohematoma, due to superficial | | | | skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. |
| bleeding from the scalp. | | | | A special type of lightning is used in most hospitals o |
| This swelling can be distinguished from the caput | | | | reduce the level of jaundice. Occasionally, the eyelids |
| succedaneum in that it is generally found only on 1 side | | | | may be swollen because of pressure placed on them |
| of the scalp. Cephalohematomas usually takes longer | | | | in the birth canal. This swelling usually resolves by 3 |
| to disappear than caputs but are of no concern unless | | | | days of age. Excess tearing in newborns is usual. |
| they are so large that there may be significant blood | | | | Often it is the result of the silver nitrate drops placed in |
| loss. | | | | the newborn's eyes to protect infection. Tears are |
| In addition the head may have marks from pressure of | | | | absorbed by tear ducts located in the inner aspects of |
| forceps, if they were used in the delivery. These | | | | your eyes. Excess tearing in only 1 eye may signal a |
| marks are very common and should resolve within a | | | | blocked tear duct. |
| few days. The size of the fontanels (the 2 soft spots | | | | The doctor will usually examine the newborn's eyes |
| on the infant's head) may vary greatly. | | | | carefully at birth, including giving the baby a test for |
| Normal fontanels range in size from 1 to 3 inches (3 to | | | | vision. Frequently, however, the doctor will arrive on the |
| 8 cm). When the infant is asleep they will ordinarily be | | | | scene when the baby is sleeping or crying, and the |
| flat. When the infant is crying, the fontanels will bilge | | | | test is not adequate under these conditions. |
| upward. They also will rise and fall regularly with the | | | | Thus it is the usually the mother who confirms that her |
| infant's heart rate. | | | | infant has good vision by checking whether the child |
| The front fontanel on top of the head will close at | | | | follow her face and eyes as she moves from side to |
| about 12 months of age. The smaller, back one will | | | | side. The doctor also will examine the lenses of an |
| close before 6 months. | | | | infant's eyes to make sure there are no cataracts. |
| Infants can see quite well from birth, although they don | | | | In addition, the doctor will use an ophthalmoscope to |
| have some difficulty focusing for the first few months | | | | examine the back of the eyes (the retinas) for signs |
| in life. One of the most frequently asked questions is | | | | of infection. The doctor also will examine the retina for |
| what color the child's eyes will be. Most newborns | | | | any blackening, which would indicate the presence of a |
| have the same eye color-bluish gray. | | | | retinoblastoma, an extremely rare but treatable tumor |
| Eye color generally cannot be determined accurately | | | | of the eye in the newborns. Also cross eyes are |
| until sometime after the third month. Yellowness of the | | | | common in newborn babies. |
| "whites" also known as jaundice is usual in newborns. | | | | |