@New parents, please check out a guide to raising a newborn baby!

When a baby is just born, new parents are happy but also nervous. Why doesn't the baby sleep at night? Why does the baby spit up milk? Why are there white particles in the stool? 100,000 questions bother new parents. In order to answer the questions of new parents, the Neonatal Department of Changsha Fourth Hospital has provided you with a guide to raising newborn babies.

1. Body temperature

The normal body surface temperature of a newborn baby is 36-36.5℃, and the core temperature (rectal temperature) is between 36.5-37.5℃. A rectal temperature above 37.5℃ is considered a fever.

2. Sleep

Newborn babies do not have a circadian rhythm and generally spend 16-20 hours a day sleeping, half of which is spent during the day and half at night. Each sleep cycle does not exceed 2 hours, and they switch continuously according to the sleep-wake cycle (sleep 1-2 hours, wake 1-2 hours).

In order to promote the formation of circadian rhythm, it is recommended to interact with the baby face to face when the baby is awake during the day, let the baby see or hear more, so that the baby is more awake and active during the day. Try to avoid too much disturbance at night, keep the room dark, and reduce sound interference.

It is normal for babies to smile, pout, and do other small movements during sleep. Sometimes babies may startle, which is related to the incomplete development of the baby's brain and nervous system. It is normal to have it occasionally, but if the baby frequently bends his hands and legs, stares with both eyes, has high muscle tone and tremors, and it lasts for a long time, parents need to be alert to whether it is convulsion and seek medical attention in time.

3. Feeding

Breastfeeding is the best choice, and feeding is on demand. The stomach of a newborn is horizontal, and the cardia between the esophagus and the stomach is relatively relaxed, so vomiting and regurgitation of milk are likely to occur after feeding.

Most babies will hiccup from time to time. Generally speaking, this is a normal phenomenon and parents do not need to worry about it. The reason for hiccups is that the diaphragm and nervous system of the newborn are not fully developed and cannot coordinate the movement of the diaphragm well. It may also be caused by eating too fast, overeating, inhaling too much air, and crying frequently.

The solutions are:

① Adjust the feeding method to reduce air intake and do not feed the baby while the baby is crying;

② After feeding, pat the baby’s back. Hold the baby upright, with the head resting on the adult’s shoulder, and pat the upper back with your hollow palm for 5-10 minutes. If accompanied by vomiting or refusal to eat, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time.

4. Breathing

Newborns have shallow, often irregular, and fast breathing, about 40 times per minute. They have short nasal cavities and poor upper respiratory defense, which can easily cause nasal obstruction and breathing difficulties. If the baby's breathing rate exceeds 60 times per minute, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment in time.

5. Defecation

The feces discharged by newborns within 2 days after birth are dark green, called "meconium", and are discharged in about 2-3 days. When breastfed, the feces are golden yellow or mustard yellow, occasionally green, thin paste or granular (milk curd), sour, 2-5 times a day, or even once every feeding (active gastrocolic reflex); when formula-fed, the feces are light yellow or khaki, may be green, thicker, occasionally white milk curd, 1-3 times a day, and the interval between defecation is longer.

It is normal to have a small amount of curds in the stool, which is related to the immaturity of the digestive system and does not require intervention. However, if there are a lot of curds and the weight gain is slow, feeding intolerance may exist and the feeding method needs to be adjusted.

6. Strabismus

Newborns may experience intermittent strabismus in the early stages of their development due to the immaturity of their visual system (such as insufficient binocular coordination and incomplete macular development). This is a normal physiological phenomenon, manifested as uncoordinated binocular movements, occasional esotropia or exotropia, but no fixed deviation. If strabismus still exists after 3 months, medical attention should be sought promptly.

7. Limb flexion

The limbs of a newborn are always in a flexed state, with the upper limbs in a "W" shape and the lower limbs in an "M" shape. This is because the fetus is in a curled up position in the mother's womb. This is a normal manifestation of muscle tone in a healthy newborn. There is no need to forcibly straighten the limbs. As the baby grows older (after 3-4 months), the muscle tone gradually improves and the limbs will stretch out.

8. Physiological jaundice

About 60%-80% of normal newborns will have yellow skin in the early stage after birth, which will last for 7-10 days and disappear on its own without any abnormal symptoms. This is called physiological jaundice. Jaundice first appears on the face and then gradually spreads to other parts of the body. Parents should pay attention to the color of the baby's skin and eyes. If jaundice is found, they should seek medical attention in time, use instruments to monitor the jaundice, and check for pathological jaundice.

9. False menstruation

Some newborn girls will have a small amount of bloody discharge from the vagina 5-7 days after birth. This is "false menstruation", a normal physiological phenomenon in the neonatal period. It usually lasts for 1 week and does not require special treatment. Pay attention to the hygiene of the vulva.

10. Breast enlargement

Affected by the mother's hormones, newborn boys and girls may have enlarged breasts 4-7 days after birth, such as the size of broad beans or walnuts, and may even secrete a small amount of milk. This is a normal physiological phenomenon and will subside within 2-3 weeks. Do not squeeze it to avoid infection.

I hope this guide can help new parents take better care of their newborn babies, and I hope every baby can grow up healthily!

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Kang Liyanshan from Changsha Fourth Hospital

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(Edited by Wx)