Your newborn baby's first examinations
A newborn examination is a check carried out by a paediatrician in the first weeks and months of a baby's life. During this period I closely follow the baby's general condition, growth and adaptation to the new environment.
During the examination I record the baby's weight, length and head circumference, carry out a general physical examination and assess reflexes.
The first weeks are often full of questions for parents. At the appointment I answer your questions about feeding, sleep and umbilical cord care.
I also give advice on everyday baby care, breastfeeding or formula feeding, bathing and sleep routine.
You can book by phone, via WhatsApp or through the contact form on the website. It is recommended to bring the documents issued by the maternity hospital.
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What to watch at home
In the first weeks the most informative signs are not complicated: how feeding is going, how many nappies are changed in a day, the sleep pattern, healing of the umbilical stump and the colour of the skin.
| What you follow | Why it matters at the appointment |
|---|---|
| Number and length of feeds | The main thing that explains weight gain |
| Number of nappies | An indirect sign of whether the baby is getting enough |
| Sleep and wakefulness | How the daily routine is forming |
| Umbilical area | How healing is progressing |
| Skin colour | The direction jaundice is taking |
Keeping notes on your phone is enough — it is **consistency**, not precision, that matters.
The questions new parents ask most
In the first months the same questions come back: is the baby eating enough, is this much sleep normal, why is there spit-up after every burp, which temperature reading is a concern. Most of these are ordinary stages, but the answer comes from specific observation rather than general discussion.
It helps to write the questions down before the appointment — the question that comes to mind mid-conversation is often the most important one.
When not to wait
Refusing to feed, difficulty waking the baby, fast or laboured breathing, increasing jaundice, redness or smell around the umbilical stump, or fever — if any of these appear, seek care without waiting for the planned appointment.
What the examination itself covers is described on the newborn examination page; growth is then followed with routine check-ups.
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The first week after coming home
The first days go into setting up the home. There are only a few practical points, but they shape daily life: a firm, flat surface where the baby sleeps, a steady room temperature, and no extra bedding or soft objects in the cot.
Visitors are often too many in the first week. This is not only a question of tiredness — the baby's feeding and sleep rhythm is being established in exactly those days. Reducing visits and keeping them short is an entirely reasonable decision.
The mother's own condition is part of what is observed: sleeplessness, pain, a sharp change in mood should not be brushed aside. Raising it at the appointment matters as much as the baby's health.
How the rhythm is set in the first months
In the newborn period visits are closer together; later the intervals widen. At each appointment the measurements are recorded and compared with the previous ones — what is meaningful is the direction of change, not a single figure.
Feeding questions are the most common at this stage; they can also be discussed at a separate nutrition consultation. Growth is then followed with the routine check-up rhythm.
Keeping notes in the first weeks
The most useful habit in the first weeks is simple record-keeping: how many feeds there were during the day, how many nappies were changed, how sleep went. Those figures are among the most valuable information at the next visit, because an answer from memory, in the sleeplessness of the first weeks, is almost always imprecise.
The record need not be perfect. Even if a few days are missed, the overall picture still comes through and makes the conversation concrete.
Room for the parent's questions
The first appointments are as much for the parent as for the baby. Questions about feeding, sleep patterns, bathing and daily care are a natural part of these visits — there is no such thing as a trivial question here.
For what to bring and how to book, see the newborn examination page.