Normal Things Which May Cause Anxiety to Parents
Every newborn brings with him a lot of concern to the parents, concern to see if everything is normal with the baby. Every little spot or any abnormal appearance is viewed with great anxiety. Here is a brief description of a few things which occur in a newborn and which most often subside with time or are harmless.

Milia:
Appear as tiny white dots on the nose and the face. These are nothing but distended sebaceous glands and they disappear on their own.

Erythema Toxicum:
Despite its ominous sounding name these are just a few harmless reddish patches, which may appear on the trunk and face. These also clear on their on.

Mongolian Spots:Again, don’t worry these are bluish, well-defined spots on the buttocks and trunk and these disappear by the by the 1^st birthday.

Stork bites:
Believed to be due to the mythological stork holding the baby from the nape of neck (for dropping them in the mother’s womb!), these are pinkish gray spots which may also be seen on the upper eyelids, forehead or nose.

Peeling of the skin:
It happens in a few babies and is nothing to be worried about. The thing to remember is that the skin underneath the peal is normal and healthy looking, if you find that the skin is raw, contact your doctor.

Breast engorgement:
Babies of both sexes may develop a slight engorgement of the breasts on the 3^rd – 4^th day. A creamish white discharge may also ooze from the nipples, this is also known as witch’s milk. No treatment is required but it is important though, not to press, massage or squeeze the breasts.

Natal teeth:
A few babies may be born with a tooth, but don’t worry, so born were Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Tulsidas. These are shed before the milk teeth erupt but if they are loose or cause injury to the mother’s breast they could be removed.

Phimosis:
In 8 out 10 male neonates the foreskin of the penis is usually non-retractable i.e. cannot be slid back. But this doesn’t usually interfere with urination and therefore no effort should be made to forcibly retract it, lest an injury is caused.

Physiological Jaundice:
It usually appears just after the 1^st day and normally disappears by the 7^th day and the bilirubin levels don’t exceed 10-mg%.

Newborn | Jaundice of a Newborn