The irresistible charm of newborn babies is undeniable. Their adorable and captivating appearance captures our hearts. However, it’s interesting to note that newborns don’t resemble the picture-perfect, fluffy babies we often envision. In fact, they may appear greasy, grimy, and even peculiar. In addition to their appearance, there are five intriguing aspects about newborn babies, particularly during the first hour after birth.
1. They are covered in a cheesy, white substance: After being in the mother’s womb, newborns are coated in a thick, cheesy white substance known as vernix caseosa. This protective layer develops on the fetal skin during the third trimester and helps keep the baby’s skin soft. It also serves as a shield аɡаіпѕt infections while in the womb.
2. Their first poop can be surprising: Once the baby is born, their gastrointestinal system starts functioning properly, and they will have their first bowel movement. However, the appearance of their first poop, called meconium, can be quite alarming. It is usually black or greenish and has no smell. As the baby starts feeding, their bowel movements will change in color, becoming green, yellow, or brown, with a familiar odor.
3. They have fine hair all over their bodies: Newborns often have fine hair, known as lanugo, covering their bodies. Lanugo refers to the downy hair that typically appears on the fetus around the fifth month of pregnancy. While most of it sheds before birth, some babies may still have traces of lanugo when they are born. However, it usually disappears on its own within a few days or weeks after birth.
4. They Ьᴜгп infant brown fat to regulate body temperature: Despite the lower outside temperature, newborns do not shiver at the time of birth. This is because their bodies have a mechanism to regulate body temperature. After delivery, a baby’s body temperature rapidly decreases, triggering the Ьᴜгпіпɡ of infant brown fat to create heat and maintain a normal body temperature.
5. The umbilical cord continues to nourish even after delivery: The umbilical cord, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus in the womb, continues to provide some leftover Ьɩood to the baby even after it is clamped and severed. This remaining Ьɩood from the cord continues to nourish the baby until the lungs fully take over the task of oxygen supply.
These facts about newborn babies may seem weігd and amusing, but they offer a fascinating insight into the early moments of life. Whether familiar or new to you, this newfound knowledge will surely give you a fresh perspective on babies.