chapter 17: nursing care of the newborn at risk Flashcards
risk factors that affect the newborn
- premature labor
- diabetes
- hypertension
- placenta abnormalities
- HIV infection
- unhealthy lifestyle
identification of the at risk newborn
- upon admission to labor and delivery, the nurse should review the pregnancy health of the woman
- advanced planning and swift action may prevent long term complications for the high risk newborn
birth asphyxia
- known as preinatal asphyxia, asphyxia neonatorum, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- defined as acute brain injury caused by asphyxia when the baby did not get enough oxygen during the birth process
possible causes of birth asphyxia
- mother does not get enough oxygen during labor
- mother’s bp is too high or too low during labor
- placenta separates from the uterus too quickly, resulting in loss of oxygen
- the umbilical cord wrapped too tightly around the neck or body
- fetus is anemic and does not have enough RBCs to tolerate labor contractions
- newborn’s airway becomes blocked
- delivery is too long or too difficult
pathophysiology of birth asphyxia
- asphyxia slows or ceases breathing
- lack of prefusion of blood to the brain and other organ systems
- hypoxia forces cells to undergo anaerobic respiration
- lactic acid forms and tissues become damaged
- lack of oxygen affects the brain, muscles, and heart first
- heart dysfunction causes hypotension
- when adequate blood perfusion returns, the brain swells causing more neurological problems
signs and symptoms of birth asphyxia
- cyanosis
- difficulty breathing
- gasping respiration
- umbilical cord ph less than 7
- Apgar score of less than 3 for more than 5 minutes
management of birth asphyxia
- immediate neonatal resuscitation if needed
- transfer to NICU if symptoms are severe or persistent
possible causes of respiratory distress of the neonate
- asphyxia at birth
- lack of surfacant in the lungs with a premature birth
- fluid in lungs
- meconium aspiration
- pulmonary hypertension
- cold stress
- conditions affecting the newborn’s ability to breathe
- nurse’s should identify early stages of respiratory distress and initiate care to provide oxygenation, improve gas exchange, and prevent more complications or death
respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of teh nwborn
- caused by a lack of surfacant in and immaturity of the fetal lungs
- seen in premature infants, infants experiencing birth asphyxia, newborns of diabetic mothers, and those born by cesarean section
- formerly known as “hyaline membrane syndrome” due to the formation of hyaline membranes that line the alveoli and impair ventilation
pathophysiology of respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn
- absence of surfacant causes the alveoli not being able to stay open for oxygenation
- hypoxemia and hypercapnia occur, leading to respiratory acidosis
- acidosis causes vasoconstriction and damages the epithelium of the lungs, leading to hyaline membrane formation inside the alveoli
hypercapnia
elevated carbon dioxide
signs and symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome evident at birth or within 8 hours of life
- tachypnea
- dyspnea
- grunting w/ expirations
- nasal flaring
- intercostal retractions
- cyanosis
medical management of respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn
- antenatal corticosteroids
- transfer to NICU
- surfacant therapy
- oxygen therapy
- continuous positive airway pressure
- mechanical ventilation support, if needed
- vapotherm
- neonatal cpr, if indicated
- administer ordered medications and fluids
- monitor respiratory and oxygenation status
- provide emotional support to the family
vapotherm
heated and humidified high flow oxygen through a nasal cannula
trasient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)
- a common self limiting condition of infants in which tachypnea, increased oxygen needs, and mild respiratory distress occur
- commonly occurs in infants sedated from maternal pain medications, prolonged labor, macrosomia, and babies born via cesarean section
- caused by incomplete reabsorption of fluid in the lungs and usually resolves within 3-5 days
meconium aspiration syndrom
- fetal distress may decrease oxygen and cause the fetus to pass meconium into the amniotic fluid
- meconium can block the infant’s bronchioles, causing poor oxygenation, pneumonia, and pneumothorax
- mainly affects term and postterm newborns
signs and symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome
- greenish yellow staining of the skin, nail beds, or umbilical cord
- tachypnea
- retractions, nasal flaring, grunting
- decreased oxygen saturation levels
- decreased breath sounds
management of meconium aspiration syndrome
- thorough suctioning with the first breath
- endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, if indicated
- transfer to NICU
- medical and nursing care is the sam eas discussed for the newborn with respiratory distress
pathophysiology
- fetal circulation persists, or remains, as it was in the uterus
- ductus arteriosus and/or foramen ovale remain open
- blood is shunted away from the lungs, the lungs have high pressure, and there is inadequate blood flow to the lungs for oxygenation
common causes of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the hypertension
- perinatal asphyxia
- RDS
- neonatal sepsis
- congenital defect of the heart or lungs
signs and symptoms of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- similar to RDS
- cyanosis that does not improve with administration of oxygen
- shock: low bp and tachycardia
- possibility of a heart murmur caused by the open ducts arteriosus and/or foramen ovale
management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- begins with transfer to the nicu
- may resolve, or infant may have ongoing health problems
- infant has a higher risk of neurosensory hearing loss and neurodevelopmental problems later
care of the newborn w/ cold stress
- the risk of cold stress is highest during the immediate transitional period after birth
- more likely to occur if born outside of the hospital environment
- normal rectal temp for term and preterm infants: 97.7-98.6 F
neonatal hypoglycemia
- plasma glucose level of less than 30 mg/dl in the first 24 hours of life and less than 45 mg/dL thereafter
- the most common metabolic problem in newborns, affecting both healthy and ill appearing infants
- 95% of the available glucose is used for brain function in newborns
long term complications from frequent or prolonged hypoglycemia are neurological damage such as
- intellectual disability
- development delays
- personality disorders
- decreased head size
- seizures
check the blood sugar with a …
heel stick blood sample
- always check the blood sugar immediately after birth for any large or small birth weight newborn
a newborn’s blood glucose levels cacn drop if the newborn
- has no glycogen sored in the liver
- hased used up stored glucose for heat production or a birth stress
- is an IDm and has hyperinsulinism
- cannot feed enough to keep glucose level in an acceptable range
birth injuries
- can occur as a result of traction and compression during the birthing process
- also known as “birth trauma”
risk factors for birth injuries
- fetal macrosomia
- cephalopelvic disproportion
- prolonged or very rapid delivery
- use of forceps or vacuum extraction
- abnormal presentation, such as breech
- large fetal head
common soft tissue injuries…
resolve within days and cause no long term problems for the infant
- cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, abrasion, or lacerations from instrumental deliveries
_________ are less common, but have potential for more complications
brachial plexus injuries, cranial nerve injuries, and fractures
brachial plexus injuries
- occur from an increase in the infant’s neck shoulder angle resulting in a traction force to the brachial plexus
- occur in 0.5 to 1,00 live births and associated w/ large birth weight, long labors, vaginal breech delivery, and shoulder dystocia
brachial plexus
a network of nerves originating in the neck area that branch off to form the nerves that control movement and sensation in the shoulders, arms, and hands
symptoms of brachial plexus injuries
- limited movement on one side of the body
- no Moro reflex on the affected side
- claw like appearance of the hand on the affected side
- abnormal muscle contractions on the affected side
definitive diagnosis of brachial plex injuries may include…
x rays to determine a fracture of the clavicle, shoulder, or arm; imaging studies; and nerve conduction studies
medical management of brachial plexus injuries
- physical therapy (ROM activities, massage, stretching)
- surgical treatment (nerve graft)
nursing care of the brachial plexus injuries
- report symptoms of brachial plexus injury immediately
- protect the affected arm from dangling when held or moved
- do not lift the infant under the axillae
- teach parents how to support the affected arm with rolled blankets when infant is in the car seat and crib
- monitor for signs of pain and report to the provider
- position the infant w/ a good body alignment
- provide emotional support to the family
fractures
- the clavicle is the most frequently fractured bone
- associated w/ macrosomic infants and infants w/ large shoulders, making vaginal delivery difficult
signs and symptoms of fractures
- newborn does not move the affected arm
- a plapable bone irregularity may be noted during physical assessment
- diagnosis is made w/ an x ray of the clavicle and affected arm
- heals in 7 to 10 days
- care includes immobilizing the arm and observing for possible brachial plexus injury
hyperbilirubinemia
- the most common condition that requires medical attention in newborns; also known as “jaundice”
types of jaundice
physiologic jaundice
pathological jaundice
pathological jaundice
- the serum bilirubin levels rises excessively and requires treatment to accelerate removal from the blood before complications can occur
- the serum bilirubin is excessively elevated; the skin becomes saturated w/ bilirubin, causing the yellow coloration; the bilirubin begins to deposit in the brain and can cause neurotoxcity (kiernickterus)
risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia
- prematurity
- blood type incompatability with the mother
- lack of effective breastfeeding
- excessive bruising from an extended labor or a malpresentation in labor, such as face presentation
signs and symptoms of hyperbilirubinemia
- visually detected when level reaches 5-6 mg/dL, first appears on the face; sclera may be tinted yellow also
- yellow color spreads down the body as bilirubin level rises
transcutaneous bilirubinometer is a…
noninvasive instrument that gives an estimate of the total bilirubin before a serum bilirubin test is performed
- definitive diagnosis is made through laboratory testing
medical management of hyperbilirubinemia
- breastfeeding or bottle feeding
- breastfeeding at least 8-12 times or bottle feeding 8 -10 times a day
- 6 wet diapers and three stools per day is most favorable to eliminate bilirubin through the GI tract and kidneys