Your Baby’s Eyes
Baby’s eye colour may change gradually over weeks and months after birth. Many babies have red or purple patches on the eyelids and puffy skin for a day or two due to pressure during delivery. Your midwife will check your baby’s eyes for cataracts after birth. A cataract gives the pupil a white or grey appearance. However, this is a very rare occurrence.
Sticky Eye
Many babies develop ‘sticky eye’ because the tear ducts are tiny and become easily blocked. When this happens a clear or white sticky fluid collects in the eye as the tears evaporate. To clean her eyes use a separate cotton wool ball or clean tissue for each eye. Moisten with cool (previously boiled) water and gently wipe the eye from the inside corner to the outside. Discard the cotton wool ball and use a clean one to wipe dry.
A common remedy is to squirt some breastmilk in the corner of the eye.If the problem persists, the white of the eye appears red, or the discharge is yellow or green see a doctor.
Sneezing/Blocked Noses
Sneezing is very common in babies. Babies usually breathe through their noses rather than their mouths so sneezing helps to keep her nose clear. Most babies sound increasingly snorty or snuffly in the first couple of months and may become noisier or even block their nose when they have a cold. (See if baby has a cold).
Breasts and Genitals
It is normal for babies to have some of their mother’s hormones in their blood for a few days after birth. For girls the breasts may swell, and occasionally may discharge a few drops of milk. Also, as light bloodstained vaginal discharge may occur. This does not require any special care.
For boys the breasts may also swell from the hormone changes.Occasionally a boy’s testicles have not descended into the scrotum at birth.Discuss if your baby boy’s testicles are not down, or if you are concerned about baby’s breast swelling, with your midwife, doctor or other health professional.
Penis Care
Newborn boys’ foreskin (skin at the end of the penis) does not need any special care. Normal washing in the bath is enough. The foreskin does not need pulling back/retracting or any cleaning under it. You need to see your doctor if you notice your baby boy’s:
- urine stream (flow) is weak, dribbles or stops and starts.
- foreskin is very swollen when he wees and it balloons out.
- pus or blood is coming out of the end of the foreskin.
