Within 24 hours of birth, your baby will have his or her first official check up. This is an important examine that will let you know the health of your baby and if any intervention needs to be done while you are still in the hospital. Yesterday, I covered some of the areas that your baby’s doctor will cover. Now, let us continue.
Nose and Mouth
Your baby’s doctor will check the inside of your baby’s mouth. One thing that will be examined is whether or not the front of the tongue is attached too tightly to the floor of your baby’s mouth. This is a condition called “tongue-tied,” and can prevent proper latching on at breast feeding. The pediatrician will evaluate this condition if it exists and decide whether or not to leave the membrane alone (it sometimes loosens over time) or to clip it. If the membrane is clipped, your baby will not feel any pain.
Your baby’s doctor will also check the roof of your baby’s mouth, the palate, to make sure that it is fully formed.
Ears
When your baby is first born, his or her ears may look quite strange. Bruised earlobes are common, due to the experience of birth. Ears may stick out, be folded over or appear stuck flat against the head. As your baby grows, the ears will take on a more normal shape. It is the inside of the ear that your baby’s doctor is most concerned about. He or she will shine a light into your baby’s ears to make sure that ear canals are fully formed.
Neck
Your baby’s doctor will run his or her hands gently over your baby’s neck. This is to check for a couple of things. First, the pediatrician wants to make sure that your baby’s collarbone hasn’t broken. This can sometimes happen in a difficult birth. Second, the doctor will ensure that there are no abnormal bumps in the neck area, which could signal a problem.
We are not done yet! Check back again for more about your baby’s first checkup!
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.
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