Newborn

Let's start with definitions for the term "newborn" - loose concept. If the couple cease to be such by the end of the honeymoon, then to the newborn period allotted by medical science, and even less, and is, according to World Health Organization guidelines, only 28 days. 28 days from the date of birth, more precisely - from the moment the umbilical cord cutting and separating the fetus from the mother.
It is clear that infants are very different from each other and defined it as a health condition, and the degree of full-term. Reasoning skills of a newborn, without specifying what kind of proper newborn in question - a thankless task, for among healthy full-term infants and toddlers who were born seven months - huge distance. Therefore, once a deal - the subject of our discussion will be exactly healthy, born at term newborn, since the physiological characteristics of preterm children - a theme-specific, requiring not so much emphasis on "skills", but rather on the differences from the norm and the consequent greater care.
Home assessment skills, and accordingly, and health status of newborns that medical staff directly in the delivery room. The result of this evaluation, each parent will be able to find in the documents, obtained at discharge from the hospital, where the read, for example: "Born 8-9 on Apgar. Not everyone knows who or what "Apgar, many believe that this sort of abbreviation and unsuccessfully trying to decipher it. Let us explain: Apgar - a name so with an accent on the first letter "A", it belongs to (name) a woman, an American anesthesiologist. Apgar scale proposed, whereby the 5 key attributes of health (illness), the newborn, such as: heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color are evaluated on a three-point system - get 0, 1 or 2 points. So in sum, and recruited a maximum of 10.
But judged by Apgar - the case of people in white coats. A the average ordinary parents like to be? That came home from the hospital, here gathered at the family council. We have a newborn. The doctors said that everything is in order. But oppressed by doubts. The red one, the eyes in different directions, waving his little arms in a strange way, pulling legs, lips spectacle out of his head wagging and generally screaming ... who lined crib relatives put forward a variety altogether disappointing version of hip young parents and is not conducive to the normal lactation mother.
And in view of the above and very typical situation, try to tell how all the same should be, because the surest way to avoid stress - time to get information. There is a second way - to ask relatives to refrain from commenting, so do not create unnecessary stress, but in the national mentality is a task nearly impossible.
Let's start with the senses. In fact, the rules have long been routine, assessment of sensory doctor check the child finishes, but that is what worries parents the most - that the child sees, hears what he feels.
Vision. And the optic nerve and the muscles that move the eyeball in the newborn is not fully formed. Child feels the only light itself as such, ie, distinguishes day from night, but understand that in front of him waving his arms is my grandmother - not in the state. Referred to the immaturity of the eye muscles creates a physiological, that is perfectly normal for the neonatal period strabismus.
Specificity is a newborn - blink reflex. The bottom line: how much would you or waving objects near the eyes - not blink, but on the bright flash and a beam of light - to respond.
Hearing. Immediately after birth, some decreased (ear cavity is filled with air slowly), but by the time the house will be - heard just like adults. But does not understand and therefore do not respond. If the sound is loud enough - shudders at the same time can change the depth and rate of respiration, react facial muscles.
Sense of smell. The sharp smell clearly responds (usually by varying the frequency of breathing), but the difference brand name viagra cologne pope from the spirits mother can not.
Taste. But with this - certainly all right. Sweet has a sedative effect, licks his lips, making swallowing movements. Salty and bitter does not like. Stops sucking, the curve was crying.
Because taste and smell are developed pretty good, it is quite possible, and it must necessarily take into account the negative reaction to "taste good" medicine and hygiene products, enjoyed by a nursing mother.
Touch. Well developed, but unevenly distributed unevenly because the nerve endings. Touching the face and extremities sees more active than stroking his back. Well, reacts quite civilized - crying from the cold and rigid, calm from soft and warm.
So, with the senses we have understood. Now, little by little everything else is equally important.

Leather. Excellent supply blood, the smallest vessels (capillaries) is broader than in adults (relative, of course). Significantly underdeveloped sweat glands. With these two factors related to a significant sensitivity to damaging factors, especially to overheat. But there is a significant advantage - a very high regenerative capacity - all heals very quickly, it is natural that, if eliminating damaging factor.
Muscle. The specific feature - increased muscle tone, but the muscles are underdeveloped, especially the muscles of the limbs. Yes, and total muscle mass is markedly different from an adult and is only 22-25% of body weight, whereas the father and mother - at least 40%.
Respiratory system. Pulmonary respiration, as is known, the fetus does not, in principle, the exchange of gases is carried out through the so-called. placental circulation. Immediately after the birth of a child takes first breath, upper respiratory tract and lungs filled with air - a baby begins to breathe in a human. An important feature of the newborn - and the narrowness of the nasal passages and throat and trachea, and covering them from within the mucous membranes are very delicate and actively supply blood. Mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract can be easily damaged picking your nose, it is easy to retain moisture. When dry, dusty air in large quantities produces a protective mucus, and since all the passages are narrow, it is often a problem when the accumulated mucus in the airways. Newborn may sneeze, but blow your nose - it's nothing. Knowing this is important precisely because the kid, of course, can breathe in a human (ie, nose, and without grunting), but only if his loving family will create the human condition - so that the dust was smaller, so as not to overdo heaters, in time to ventilate the baby's room.
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn baby is in the range of 40-60 breaths per minute.

Cardiovascular system. Immediately after birth, placental circulation ceases. The work of the heart and vascular changes significantly. Fill with blood the lungs cease to function and close some of the vessels and openings (through which the fetus was carried bloodstream, bypassing the lungs). The heart of the newborn - one of the most healthy bodies, it is highly resistant to stress, and lack of oxygen. Heart rate ranges from 110 to 140 beats per minute, and these fluctuations occur constantly - almost any interference seriously alters heart rate.
Digestive system. A child is born with a very well-developed chewing muscles and relatively large tongue. This makes possible a long and active sucking. But the salivary glands still immature and very little saliva. Digestive organs grow very rapidly. So, the first day of life stomach holds about 20 ml of milk a week for 50 ml, and by the end of the neonatal period more than 100. Since a child's body is focused on milk, enzymes of the stomach and intestines on the qualitative and quantitative composition-oriented successful digestion was milk. In the first 10-20 hours of life the intestinal tract is almost sterile, but it quickly filled with germs. Multiplies in the intestine bacteria alter the appearance of feces - at first he was brown, then greenish-yellow, a few days - light yellow, mushy with sour smell.
Allocation system. At birth in the bladder is a small amount of urine. In the first 3 days of life is a relatively rare urination - 4-5 times a day - it is quite normal. But the amount of walking on a small rapidly growing need for a second week of life ranges from 15 to 25 times. Bladder volume in the newborn between 50 and 80 ml, but the urine to accumulate in such quantities child does not know how - 10-15 ml of "collect" and only - time to change a diaper. As for the kidneys themselves, they are even capable of completely and successfully carry out their functions, but at the time of birth are underdeveloped. In this regard, the characteristics of urine newborn (weight, response, protein content) - are different from the norms of an adult.
The nervous system of the newborn has a number of features, it is perhaps precisely the system of the body that undergoes the biggest change is in the first months of life. And reflexes, and irritability, and reactions to his surroundings - are changing constantly. Muscle tone is more pronounced in the muscles, bending arms and legs. Some signs are absolutely crazy for adults, it is natural for newborn babies. For example, shaking the limbs (the so-called. Tremor) is very undesirable for the excited grandparents, but for a newborn is the norm. Tendon reflexes (those that neurologist determines using a hammer) in the newborn are not constant, well, except that the knee is almost always determined and all.
But there is a very special reflexes they are called "physiological reflexes babies." Mentioned reflexes are due to immaturity of the brain, they are all healthy infants, but as the brain "matures", they fade and disappear by 4-5 months. These reflexes can detect with your child every parent to make sure thus, in his (the child) is normal. Examples:
Grasping reflex. If you bring it to the inside of the When the "no" means "yes" palm of the baby finger of an adult, the child grabs it and holds firmly. So firmly that it is easy to raise the child up above the surface of the table.
Reflex hug. Occurs when you hit a table on which lay a child, a sudden loud sound, with a pat on the buttocks or thighs. Reflex consists of two phases. The first - the child leans back, shoulders, unbend, and divorced in the hands of the parties. In the second phase of the reflex hands converge on the chest.
Reflex crawling. If the baby lay on his tummy and palm adult nagging feet, the child pushes.

Reflexes support and automatic walking. In the vertical position (keep the child under the arms) the child rests on legs in the changing table. And if you tilt it slightly forward movement occur, reminiscent of walking.
Enumerated list of reflections is not limited, but for the parent of experiments reduced the list is quite sufficient.
This information allows us to make a definite impression of the skills of a newborn baby. The kid, though it seems weak and helpless, but can in fact very much. The main skill - the ability to distinguish good from bad, and report it to relatives. Cry and call for help when hungry, when they feel uncomfortable when something hurts, calm down and behave decently, when all the suits. Knows how to suck and swallow, is able to relieve themselves, to distinguish day from night, the silence from the noise and tasty from the bitter, soft from a solid - not too little for a man whose age is determined by the day.