11: Vital Signs

Question 1

What is a normal RR in a newborn?

Answer 1

30-60

Question 2

What is acceptable weight loss of an infant in the 1st 7-10 days?

Answer 2

<10%

Question 3

What is the mean low temperature and when is it reached?

Answer 3

Mean low temperature is 35.6° C with lowest temperature reached at a mean age of 75 minutes after delivery.

Question 4

What cardiac anomalies might be normal?

Answer 4

1. Loud second heart sound during first few hours to days of life secondary to slight pulmonary hypertension; splitting of the first heart sound is rare, but there is often narrow splitting of the second heart sound, which may be difficult to detect.
2. Murmur: Soft grade II/VI systolic murmur may be present and represents a left-to-right shunt across the ductus arteriosus prior to its closure.

Question 5

What is a normal HR in a newborn?

Answer 5

120-160, but may initially range from 80 when sleeping to 180 when crying.