Having initially fed strongly, Harry did not feed well in his first few days, so his mother expressed milk for him, giving it via the medication syringe, sterilising it well after each use. He soon got the hang of sucking again and feeding settled down. He regained his birth weight at two and a half weeks.
On day seven, Harry's umbilical cord stump came off, leaving a healthy 'button'. He also had the Guthrie (heel prick) test. Around this time his parents noticed a hard 'blob' protruding from his chest, and after discussion with the visiting midwife it was explained to them that occasionally, part of the sternum can protrude slightly. This would soon become less noticeable.
Red marks also appeared on the back of Harry's neck and on his scrotum.
These are haemangioma, often known as strawberry birthmarks. These slightly raised marks often continue to grow for a short time and then remain stable, usually disappearing completely by the age of eight years.
At two and a half weeks, Harry poked out his tongue in imitation of daddy, and at four weeks plus one day he gave his first social smile.
Questions
1 Sometimes swollen breasts are seen in newborn infants. Why is this?
2 How much weight can a baby lose in the first few days without raising the concern of health professionals?
3 What is the Guthrie test?
Answers to part 1 questions (19 February)
1 The Apgar score measures five aspects of the infant's well-being at one minute and five minutes old (and continued as necessary). These are heart rate, respiration (breathing), responsiveness to stimulus, muscle tone, and skin colour (to judge how well oxygenated they are). Harry initially lost 'points' for his colour, breathing and heart rate.
2 Centile charts measure height (or length), weight and head circumference, and are used as a rough guide to what is considered to be within 'normal'
ranges. Eighty per cent of children fall within the set range.
3 Vitamin K is given at birth to prevent the rare but exceedingly dangerous condition 'neonatal haemorrhage'. It can be given either by mouth or injection.
By Sandy Green, an early years consultant and freelance trainer. She is also Harry's grandmother.
