Birth Injuries

Some babies have a more difficult trip through the birth canal than others, resulting in physical injuries. These injuries usually are not serious and clear up or improve within a few days or weeks after the birth.

Newborn Measurements

Your newborn will be weighed in the hospital and at all check-ups. This chart will help you convert the metric unit grams (g) to pounds (lb) and ounces (oz).

Gestational Age Assessment

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.

Physical Exam of the Newborn

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

Skin Color Changes

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.