You've been waiting for this day for months: finally you get to meet your new baby. But if you're like most new parents, you may not have a clear idea of what that meeting will be like. Your baby's first day of life outside the womb is one of the most eventful days in your own life. So before you come face to face with the newest member of your family, read about what to expect that special first day.

What Your Baby Looks Like
Although you may have visions of a robust bouncing baby boy or girl, reality may not match that image. Many newborns are tiny, wet creatures when they first emerge. Often their heads are slightly pointed as a result of passing through the birth canal. This is only temporary; the head will take on a rounded appearance within a few days. It may be surprising to you that a newborn's head is big when compared to the rest of the body.

Your baby also may look scrunched up since her legs and arms are kept bent at the knees and elbows while in the womb. After months of growing in ever-tightening close quarters, this is perfectly normal. The limbs will straighten out as she grows. Look at her tiny fingers and toes. You'll notice that she has paper-thin - and sometimes long - nails.

Her skin may have one of several possible appearances. Regardless of her ethnic background, she will look somewhat red, pink, or purple at first. Some babies are born with a white, cheesy coating called vernix, which protects their skin from the constant exposure to amniotic fluid. Other babies are born very wrinkled. And some, especially premature babies, have a soft, furry appearance because of lanugo, a fine hair that develops while in the womb. Lanugo comes off after a week or two. Rashes, blotches, or tiny white spots are also not unusual on newborns. These generally clear up over the first few days or weeks after birth.

Remember your baby's appearance will change dramatically over the next weeks as she grows. Her limbs will extend, her skin tone will probably change, and her blotches will disappear. Savor the momentous occasion of meeting your child in person. The big adventure has begun! Your newborn will stir your heart from the very beginning - and chances are you'll view her as the most beautiful little person you've ever seen.