Care of the Newborn (Physiologic Adaptations) Flashcards
time from birth through the first 28 days of life
Neonatal Period
critical period as it requires a complex transition in the different systems of the body in order to go through a successful shift of environment.
Neonatal Period
Immediate changes happen in the newborn’s anatomy and physiology after birth
Neonatal Period
Within minutes being exposed in the extrauterine life, respirations and circulatory adaptations need to be established along with other functions
Neonatal Period
____________________________ are vital needs of a fetus wherein such needs are fully dependent on the mother.
Oxygen, nutrition and waste removal
Immediately after birth, the newborn’s lungs must:
- inflate,
- absorb the remaining lung fluid ; and
- oxygen exchange must begin.
3 basic mechanisms in initiation of respirations:
- Development of the Lungs
- Causes of Respiration
- Continuation of Respirations
produced by the alveoli for maximum expansion and normal development of lungs
Fetal Lung Fluid
Fetal Lung Fluid produced by the alveoli for
maximum expansion and normal development of lungs
production of Fetal Lung Fluid ____________________ as fetus nears term and absorption begins during _____________________________________
decreases; early labor and at birth
during labor, Fetal Lung Fluid begins to move into the ___________________ for ___________________
interstitial spaces; absorption
slippery detergent-like combination of lipoproteins that lines the inside of the alveoli to reduce surface tension that allows it to remain partially open when infant begins to breath at birth
Surfactant
function of Surfactant
reduce surface tension that allows it to remain partially open when infant begins to breath at birth
chemical changes that takes place at birth
Internal Stimuli
includes the thermal, sensory and mechanical factors
External Stimuli
Internal causes of the initiation of respirations are the
chemical changes at birth
External causes of respirations include
thermal, sensory and mechanical factors
Low Surfactant =
ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
As alveoli expands,
surfactant allows them to remain partially open between respirations
FRC
functional residual capacity
_________________ of air from first breath becomes the functional residual capacity (FRC)
20-30 mL
Infants born by cesarean delivery: does not have the
same benefit of the ______________________ which may mean
that more fluid is in their lungs that must be absorbed
after birth, which makes respiratory adaptation more
challenging.
VAGINAL SQUEEZE
Nursing Responsibility for Infants born by cesarean delivery
Closely monitor the respirations of the newborn after cesarean delivery.
Maturity of the respiratory system can be determined prenatally by measuring the
ecithin/ sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio of amniotic fluid
Assessment: Check for the ____________________ of the newborn and note for ______________________
respiratory rate; signs of respiratory distress
Signs of Respiratory Distress in Newborns
● Tachypnea (sustained respiratory rate greater than 60 breaths per minute)
● Nasal flaring
● Grunting (noted by stethoscope or audible to the ear)
● Intercostal or xiphoid retractions
● Unequal movements of the chest and abdomen during breathing efforts
● Central cyanosis
sustained respiratory rate greater than 60 breaths per minute
Tachypnea
Deoxygenated blood that enters the heart after________________________________________________________; therefore, ________________________
birth must go to the lungs for gas exchange; the fetal shunts must close
Factors contributing to the closing of shunts:
- The lungs fill with air, causing the pressure to drop in the chest as soon as the newborn takes his first breath. This change results in a REVERSAL OF PRESSURES in the right and left atria, causing the FOREMAN OVALE TO CLOSE so that blood is redirected to the lungs.
- The OXYGEN content of blood circulating through the lungs INCREASES with the first few breaths. This chemical change contributes to the CLOSING OF THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS, which eventually becomes a ligament. The DUCTUS VENOSUS ALSO CLOSES, allowing nutrient-rich blood from the gut to circulate through the newborn’s liver
BLOOD VALUES
- 80 to 110 mL per kilogram of body weight, or about 300 mL total
- Newborn hemoglobin carries a greater proportion of oxygen than adult hemoglobin
- Hemoglobin level averages 17 to 18 g/100 mL of blood
- hematocrit is between 45% and 50% and has an equally high white blood cell count at birth, about 15,000 to 30,000 cells/mm3
- has an elevated red blood cell count, about 6 million cells per cubic millimeter
- indirect bilirubin level at birth is 1 to 4 mg/100 mL
BLOOD COAGULATION
- Prolonged coagulation or prothrombin
time - Vitamin K synthesis is necessary for the formation of:
factor II (prothrombin)
factor VII (proconvertin)
factor IX (plasma thromboplastin
component)
factor X (Stuart-Prower factor)
Vitamin K synthesis is necessary for the formation of:
factor II (prothrombin)
factor VII (proconvertin)
factor IX (plasma thromboplastin
component)
factor X (Stuart-Prower factor)
maintenance of body temperature
Thermoregulation
process by which heat production is balanced with heat loss
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is developed poorly in the newborn because of two key factors:
- The newborn is prone to heat loss
- The newborn is not readily able to produce heat by muscle movement and shivering
Newborn Characteristics that Lead to Heat Loss
- Skin is thin & blood vessels are close to the surface
- Little subcutaneous fat
- Degree of flexion
Methods of Heat Loss
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Evaporation
is loss of heat through conversion of a liquid to a vapor
Evaporation
to prevent Evaporation:
a. dry newborns as soon as possible, especially their face and hair.
b. Cover the hair with a cap after drying it further reduces the possibility of evaporation cooling.
is the transfer of body heat to a cooler solid object in contact with a baby
Conduction
to prevent Conduction: cover surfaces with a warmed blanket or towel helps to minimize conduction heat loss.
cover surfaces with a warmed blanket or towel helps to minimize conduction heat loss.
is the flow of heat from the newborn’s body surface to cooler surrounding air
Convection
To prevent Convection:
Eliminate drafts from windows or air conditioners reduces convection heat loss
is the transfer of body heat to a cooler solid object not in contact with the baby
Radiation
to prevent Radiation:
move infant as far from the cold surface as possible helps reduce this type of heat loss
It takes oxygen to produce heat. If the newborn is allowed to become cold stressed, he will eventually develop _____________________________
respiratory distress
Newborn’s Stomach Capacity
6 mL/kg at birth
stimulated when stomach fills causing peristalsis
Gastrocolic Reflex
caused by immature cardiac sphincter
Regurgitation
Gastrocolic Reflex is stimulated when _________________ causing _________________
stomach fills; peristalsis
Regurgitation is caused by ____________________________
immature cardiac sphincter
Limited ability to digest fat & starch-
pancreatic enzymes, lipase and amylase remains deficient for the first few months (4-6 months)