Newborns are strange and alarming in ways nobody warns you about. Most of it is completely normal. Here are five of the most common things that send new parents to Google at 3am.
Newborn breathing is irregular in a way that looks alarming if you're watching closely. It's normal for babies to breathe rapidly for a few breaths, then slowly, then pause for up to 10 seconds. This is called periodic breathing and is normal in the first few months as the brain's respiratory control centres mature.
Grunting during sleep is also normal — it's usually related to passing gas or having a bowel movement. When to be concerned: a pause longer than 20 seconds, blue colouring around the mouth or fingernails, or laboured breathing where the ribs are visible with each breath or nostrils are flaring. These need same-day attention.
Newborn skin is transitioning from amniotic fluid to air. Peeling — especially on hands, feet and stomach — is completely normal in the first week or two. Milia (tiny white spots across the nose and cheeks) are blocked oil glands and clear on their own.
Erythema toxicum sounds alarming and looks alarming — red blotchy patches with yellow-white centres that can spread rapidly — but affects around half of all newborns and is entirely harmless. It appears in the first few days and disappears within 1–2 weeks. When to worry: a rash with a fever, a rash that doesn't fade when pressed (glass test), or a rash that looks infected.
The soft spot on the top of your baby's head (the anterior fontanelle) can visibly pulse with each heartbeat — this is normal, as it sits directly over a large vein. You can touch it gently; it will not hurt your baby.
The fontanelle normally sits flat or slightly sunken. A sunken fontanelle can indicate dehydration — worth watching in a baby who is feeding poorly. A bulging fontanelle in a baby who is not crying can indicate raised intracranial pressure and needs same-day assessment. Crying itself causes temporary bulging, which is normal.
Most newborns lose up to 7–10% of their birth weight in the first few days. This is expected — they're losing fluid, passing meconium, and feeding on colostrum while milk comes in. The key milestone is regaining birth weight by around 2 weeks.
If a midwife expresses concern, it's worth asking for the specific number and the context. A loss of up to 10% in an otherwise well baby who is feeding and producing nappies is generally not cause for intervention. Loss above 10%, or combined with dehydration or jaundice, does warrant investigation.
Physiological jaundice affects around 60% of term newborns. It typically appears on day 2–3, peaks around day 5, and clears by 2 weeks in most babies. It's caused by the normal breakdown of fetal red blood cells and the liver's immature ability to process the bilirubin produced.
Most jaundice is self-limiting and managed with frequent feeding. Jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours is different and needs prompt assessment. Jaundice combined with poor feeding, extreme sleepiness, or a very high bilirubin number may need phototherapy. Ask your midwife for the number — they should tell you.