Baby

Question 1

What is considered a late preterm infant?

Answer 1

Defined at birth at 34 through 36 weeks gestation.

Question 2

Why does the late preterm infant have a higher morbidity and mortality than term infants?

Answer 2

This is due to their relative physiologic and metabolic immaturity even thought they may be the same size as term infants.

Question 3

What is hyperbilirubinemia?

Answer 3

When the baby is growing in the mother’s womb, the placenta removes bilirubin from the baby’s body. The placenta is the organ that grows during pregnancy to feed the baby. After birth, the baby’s liver starts doing this job. It may take some time for the baby’s liver to be able to do this efficiently. Yellowing of the skin is called “physiological jaundice.” It is often most noticeable when the baby is 2 - 4 days old. Most of the time it does not cause problems and goes away within 2 weeks.

Question 4

Why is thermoregulation important in newborns?

Answer 4

Thermoregulation is a critical physiologic function that is closely associated with the neonate’s survival. Extremely low-birthweight infants have inefficient thermoregulation due to immaturity—and caregiver procedures such as umbilical line insertions, intubations, and chest x-rays can lead to heat loss as well. As a result, infants may exhibit cold body temperatures after birth and during their first 12 hours of life. Thermoregulation plays a unique—and crucial—role in the nurturing and development of neonates.

Question 5

What are some signs of infection in the newborn?

Answer 5

• poor feeding
• breathing difficulty
• listlessness
• decreased or elevated temperature
• unusual skin rash or change in skin colour
• persistent crying
• unusual irritability
• a marked change in behaviour

Question 6

Name 2 tocolytics used to slow down contractions.

Answer 6

Ethyl Alcohol
(Vodka, etc) topical antiseptic
CNS depressant (Rarely used anymore
causes intoxication)

Beta Agonists
(Terbutaline, ritodrine, isoxuprine) (asthma mos commonly used)
tocolytics in USA

Magnesium Sulfate (magnesium deficiency also given for PIH)

Nifedipine
(Procardia) (hypertension, angina, arrhythmia other Ca channel blockers are also used)

Indomethacin
(indocin) inflammatory conditions
like gout, arthritis also used to close
PDA in premies)

Question 7

Name the drug initiated to increase contractions.

Answer 7

Oxytocin
The release of the hormone during labor makes the muscles of the uterus, womb, contract - in other words, it increases uterine motility. The release of oxytocin is triggered by the widening of the cervix and vagina during labor, and this effect is in turn increased by the subsequent contractions.

Question 8

What is given to treat fetal lung immaturity?

Answer 8

In women at risk for preterm delivery (less than 37 weeks’ gestation), antenatal corticosteroids are frequently administered to prevent fetal lung immaturity at birth.

Question 9

Is there evidence to suggest there are long term developmental effects (learning) for late term infants?

Answer 9

Late-preterm infants born otherwise healthy seem to have no real burdens regarding cognition, achievement, behavior, and socioemotional development throughout childhood.