8.1a Newborn Transition and Adaptation Flashcards
First Period of Reactivity
- Baby is awake and alert
- Once cord gets clamped/cut the baby uses its own heart and transfers to adult circulation.
- HR 160-180
- Not unusual for baby to have irregular respirations, crackles, retractions
- Tachycardia/Tachypnea (Up to 80 breaths a minute)
- Breastfeeding is essential as soon as possible (skin to skin immediately)
- Resuscitation should be done on mom’s chest
- Best and most important time for breastfeeding
Period of Decreased Responsiveness
- After first 30 minutes baby will be sleepy for a few hours (60-100 minutes)
- Rapid and shallow respirations are common
- Acrocyanosis (Normal for the first 12-24 hours)
Second Period of Reactivity
- Occurs 2-8 hours after birth (Hyperalert and responsive phase)
- Lasts 10 minutes to several hours
- Good to keep baby on skin to skin contact at all times (breastfeed)
- Increased mucus secretions that may need to be suctioned
- Often pass meconium
- Tachycardia/Tachypnea (Transient)
Fetal Lung Development
- 20-24 weeks of gestation (alveolar ducts appear)
- 24-28 weeks gestation (primitive alveoli, supports gas exchange, surfactant present)
- 28-32 weeks of gestation (Active surfactant production)
- 35 weeks of gestation (peak surfactant production)
Surfactant
- Composed of phospholipids which line and lower surface tension of alveoli
- Stabilizes alveoli by allowing air to remain in alveoli during expiration
L/S - 2:1 Ratio - Indicates lung maturity
Lecithin - Peak production at 35 weeks of gestation (Most abundant phospholipid in surfactant)
Sphingomyelin - Levels remain constant throughout gestation
- Synthetic surfactant can be used if lungs are not mature
Respiratory Adaptations
Initiation of Breathing
- Chemical (Babies have asphyxia from vaginal birth due to squeeze and contractions. When cord is clamped, chemical factors trigger effort of respiration.)
- Mechanical (The contractions that occur push the fluid out of the babies lungs which allows baby to breathe)
- Thermal (Cooler environment stimulates baby to take a deep breath)
- Sensory (Once babies are born and exposed to loud noise, bright lights, skin stimulation, it stimulates baby to take their first breath)
Characteristics of First Breaths
- Periodic Breathing - Pauses lasting 5-15 seconds followed by regular rate (no color or HR change. This is normal)
- Obligatory nose breathers (low oxygen would be put by their nose if needed)
- 30-60 breaths a minute is normal
(Always count for 1 full minute because of periodic breathing)
Respiratory Distress
- Increased respiratory rate
- Grunting, Nasal Flaring, Intercostal or Subcostal Retractions
Color Change - Acrocyanosis (Lasting longer than first 24 hours ABNORMAL)
- Central cyanosis (Best place to look is mucus membranes - Hypoxemia)
- Circumoral Cyanosis (Blue around the mouth. Cardiac Disease is Worried)
Interventions for Respiratory Adaptation
- Clear the airway (mouth first, nose second) - With suction
- Stimulate the newborn to cry by drying the baby
- Administer oxygen if necessary
Integumentary Adaptations
- At birth skin is covered with Vernix Caseosa (yellow stuff on baby)
- Term infant may be red (erythematous) which fades at birth
- Skin may be blotchy or mottled and extremities may be slightly blue (acrocyanosis)
- Fine lanugo hair may be noted (the younger the baby the more lanugo)
Fetal Shunts
- Ductus Venosus - Bypasses the liver
- Foramen Ovale - Between the atria
- Ductus Arteriosus - Between pulmonary artery and aorta
These 3 shunts, send blood away from organs that don’t need it (these make up fetal circulation)
- Minimizes blood that goes to lungs and liver
Cardiovascular Adaptations
Once cord is clamped and baby takes their first breath..
- Pulmonary vascular resistance decreases (so blood starts flowing to the lungs)
- Increased systemic pressure causes closure of ductus venosus
- Increased pulmonary blood flow from left side increases pressure in left atrium and closes foramen ovale
- The ductus arteriosus closes as pulmonary circulation increases
- Sometimes the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus can stay patent in the first 24-72 hour which cause murmurs. Babies must be watched closely.
Cardiovascular Adaptations
HR
- Apical pulse should be 100-160
- During sleep it may be less than 100
Murmurs
- 90% are transient related to incomplete closure of fetal shunts
Blood Pressure (This is not routine unless their are risks)
- Vary in the first 24 hours
- Full term 60-90/40-60
Hematologic Adpatations
- Fetal circulation is less efficient at oxygen exchange due to bypass of lungs so greater RBC’s are required in utero
- Average RBC, Hgb, Hct are higher than adults
- RBC’s also die at a faster rate
Hematologic Adaptation
- 80% of newborns blood at birth contains fetal hemoglobin. (These cells have a shorter life resulting in dramatic RBC decrease resulting in minor brief anemia) - take some extra iron
- Leukocytosis (elevated WBC count) is normal and not a sign of infection