Detailed information on newborn health assessments

It's not always easy to tell a newborn's age by their size. Premature babies are usually small, but full-term and past-term babies can be small, too. That's when healthcare providers will do a gestational assessment to determine if a newborn needs special treatment.

A complete physical exam is an important part of newborn care. Each body system is carefully checked for signs of health and normal function.

The color of a baby's skin can often help identify possible problems in another area of the body. Here are some skin color changes to be aware of.

Detailed information on when to call your baby's physician

Your baby's activity level, appetite, and cries normally vary from day to day, and even hour to hour. But a distinct change in any of these areas may signal illness.

Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) is a pregnancy complication. In this condition, the sac (amniotic membrane) surrounding your baby breaks (ruptures) before week 37 of pregnancy. Once the sac breaks, you have an increased risk for infection. You also have a higher chance of having your baby born early.

Detailed information on identifying potential risks of a pregnancy as an important part of preconception care

Detailed information on prenatal diagnosis to detect fetal abnormalities in the womb

Detailed information on preconception care