Expert answer

By TraceyGodridge

Your baby’s skin may be blue-grey in colour immediately after birth, but as she starts to breathe, her blood will become oxygenated, so her skin should soon turn pink. She may also be covered in a greasy white substance called vernix (particularly if she was premature<>). This substance protected her skin in the uterus<>, and prevented it from drying out. Her skin may be wrinkly, thanks to spending nine months suspended in amniotic fluid. Many babies heads appear misshapen immediately after birth. If he or she was born vaginally, the four plates of her skull will have to mould to the shape of the birth canal, making her head look elongated. This will be even more pronounced if you have a ventouse<>(suction cup) delivery. But you can rest assured that her head will go back to a regular shape in a few weeks. Some parents are surprised to find their baby is born with a shock of dark hair (although, of course, some are born with none atall). This usually falls out during the first days, to be replaced by stronger hair, which is often a different colour. If you are white-skinned, your newborn’s eyes will probably look grey-blue at birth (although they may change colour during the first few months) and her face may look puffy, but this should settle in a few days. You may also notice stork marks, which are small red blemishes. They usually disappear quickly. Finally, don’t be surprised if your Baby’s genitals are enlarged at birth; some babies appear to have breasts, and some baby girls bleed from the vagina. All this is due to the hormones your body produces before birth. As the hormones leave your baby’s body, her genitals will normalise.