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Newborn Surprises
Skin Transformations, Bizarre Behavior and Other Perfectly Normal Oddities that Worry First-time Parents
By Heather Johnson Durocher
At 4 weeks old, Andrew Crawford's face broke out in tiny red bumps. Worried that something was terribly wrong with her newborn, Andrew's mother called his doctor. "That's not something I had read or they had even mentioned in the hospital," explains first-time mom Elizabeth Crawford of Cottage Grove, Minn. "They tell you not to bathe them too often, so you don't, but you're not sure why your baby is getting all these little red bumps." Andrew's doctor assured her that the unsightly condition, known as infant acne, is common and would most likely disappear on its own within a few weeks. Sure enough, Andrew's face returned to its angelic state by the time he was 6 weeks old.
Perfectly normal changes in newborns, whether they are blemishes, a belly bulge, crossed eyes or a number of other occurrences, are scary for many new parents. Even when prepared for "anything," a new parent's heightened sense of protectiveness and anxiety can get the best of them when their newborn begins to look and act a bit like a Frankenstein creation. Strange rashes, crusty scales on the scalp, tarry bowel movements and a scabbed belly button – what parent wouldn't be a bit nervous?
"Parents are naturally going to tend to worry, but I would stress that they not be shy about bringing concerns up with their doctor," says Dr. Eric Barth, a pediatrician at Allina Medical Clinic – Ramsey in Ramsey, Minn. He also recommends writing down your concerns so you don't forget anything at your baby's next check-up. "The vast majority of time we're going to be able to assure you it's normal."
The following are some of the often frightening, yet common, things first-time parents may encounter in their newborn.
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