Newborn periods

When you are preparing to welcome a newborn, you try to think of everything during pregnancy. But there are always a few things that slip through the net, especially when it is a first baby. Newborn periods are one of those phenomena that can catch parents off guard when they are not aware of them.

But there is nothing to worry about — we explain everything right here!

Newborn periods: no need to panic!

Also known as metrorrhagia, these periods can appear in baby girls during the first week after birth. However, although surprising, this vaginal discharge remains very light, painless, and poses no danger to baby.

You may notice small traces of blood in your child's first diapers. This phenomenon is due to the secretion of sex hormones — a kind of pre-puberty, which then lies dormant until true puberty arrives in adolescence.

We would recommend mentioning it to your paediatrician only if the discharge persists over time or becomes more abundant, or if it is accompanied by any discomfort in your newborn.

Finally, this discharge does not affect every baby. So there is equally no need to worry if nothing happens at all!

The genital crisis: a more pronounced phenomenon than newborn periods

In some babies, hormonal upheaval can be more pronounced — and this applies to both girls and boys.

In girls, you may notice a slight swelling of the breasts, with some redness and even a little discharge. The same can occur around the intimate area, which may appear larger.

As for boys, their genitals may also increase in size.

All these signs gradually fade and ultimately disappear within a few days.

Little things worth knowing before birth

We know that new parents tend to worry and ask themselves all sorts of questions. We completely understand!

You will find several articles on our blog that might come in handy:

Newborn tremors
The Moro reflex
Or the benefits of skin-to-skin contact

And what about you — what surprised you most when your baby was born?