The first 48 hours: what your baby actually looks like
Nobody warns you. Here is what is normal, and why these are the details you'll want to remember.
Head
A slightly cone-shaped or lopsided head is common after a vaginal birth and rounds out within days. Soft spots are normal. Hair may be dark, thick, patchy or absent — and may change completely.
Skin
Peeling and flaking, especially on hands and feet, is your baby shedding the skin that protected them in the womb. Tiny white bumps (milia), a blotchy pink rash, and a bluish tint to hands and feet are all typical. Vernix — the white, waxy coating — is protective; many hospitals now leave it on.
Face
Puffy eyes, a flattened nose and swollen lips from delivery all settle quickly. Crossed eyes are normal for the first few months.
Body
Baby stays curled — knees up, fists closed — for the first week or so. The umbilical stump is clamped and will dry and fall off in one to three weeks. Breasts and genitals may look swollen from your hormones.
Why we photograph it
Every one of these things is gone within days, and they are what parents most often wish they had a picture of. That is the whole reason in-hospital newborn photography exists. Always ask your pediatric nurse about anything that worries you — this article is general information, not medical advice.
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