Class 9: Physical Assessment of Newborn Flashcards
what is the method of assessment of temp in the newborn (NB)
- axillary
what is the average finding for temp in NB? normal variation?
- average finding: 37
- normal variation: 36.5-37.5
what is the method of assessment for HR/pulse
- auscultation
- palpation
what are the average findings for NB pulse?
- 110-160
what is the normal variation for HR in NB
- 80-100 when asleep
- up to 180 if actively crying
what is the method of assessment for RR of NB
- observe effort
- auscultate
what are the average findings of RR in NB
- 30-60 breaths/min
what is normal variation of RR in NB
- short periodic breathing episodes
- stabilization occurs by day 1-2
what is concerning r/t short periodic breathing episodes in NB
- no apnea >20 sec
by days 1-2, describe RR in NB
- usually then 30-40 breaths/min
how long should RR of NB be assessed?
- for full min due to irregularity
what is the protocol for VS of the NB
- shortly after birth
- then q1h x3
- then q8h for up to 24 h after birth
- then q12h until discharge
describe assessment of BP in NB
- not routinely assessed in healthy newborns
what are the guidelines for physical exam of NB (7)
- provide normothermic & non-stimulating exam area
- hand hygeine
- undress only body area to be examined to maintain newborn temp
- proceed quickly to avoid stressing NB
- comfort infant throughout
- involve parents
- document findings
what findings from the physical assessment of the NB should be communicated to the PCP?
- all normal variations and abnormal findings
ideally, perform NB assessment when NB is… (2)
- quiet
- alert
describe the order of physical assessment in NB
- perform procedures that require quiet first –> skin color, tone, auscultation, overall condition
- perform more disturbing procedures last –> temp, testing reflexes
describe antibodies present in the NB, how are they transported?
- born with some antibodies
- most transported across the placenta from maternal circulation
antibodies transported to NB from placenta & maternal circulation provides microbial protection to the NB for how long?
- 1st 3 months of life
describe the risk of infection in NB
- high risk
what is included in prevention of infection in NB (2)
- good hand hygiene
- staff should avoid unit if actively infectious
describe the general appearance of NB(2)
- should have general plump appearance
- flexed posture
what are the normal values of activity/state of alertness in the NB (3)
- sleeping
- quiet alert
- active alert
what measurements are done for the NB (3)
- length (measured initially & plotted for gestational age)
- weight (measured initially & plotted for gestational age)
- head circumference
describe the method of assessment of weight in NB
- naked w protective liner/pad/towel
what are the average findings of weight in newborn? normal variation?
- average: 3400-3500
- normal variation: 2500-4000g
describe the method of assessment of length in NB
- top of head to heel
what are the average findings of NB length?
- average: 45-55 cm
describe the method of assessment of head circumference in NB
- occipitofrontal circumference
what are the average findings of head circumference in NB? normal variation?
- average: 33-35 cm
- normal variation: 32-36.8
what are normal findings of skin assessment in NB (8)
- generally/centrally pink
- acrocyanosis common
- skin intact, smooth
- general plump appearance
- vernix caseosa
- lanugo hair
- warm
- some mottling in limbs
what is vernix caseosa? what is its function?
- soft cheeselike/whiteish substance on skin
- protective function
what is lanugo hair
- fine hair over face, shoulders, back
describe changes to skin pigmentation after birth
- begins to deepen
what are normal variations of skin assessment in NB (7)
- superficial crackling/peeling hands & feet
- mottling extremities
- mongolian spots
- stork bites
- erythema toxicum
- petechiae
- sweat glands
superficial cracking/peeling of hands & feet is more common with?
- postterm babies
what causes mottling to extremities in NB
- due to instability of newborn circulation
what are mongolian spots
- congenital dermal melancytosis
- bluish spots common to back & buttocks at birth
describe the duration of mongolian spots in NB
- fade over months
what are stork bites/nevi/telangiecases
- flat, pink capillary hemangiomas
describe blanching of stork bites
- easily blanched
describe duration of stork bites in newborn
- most fade in 1st and 2nd years if life
what is erythema toxicum
- transient rash
- erythematous macules, papules, and small vesicles
what is the clinical signif of erythema toxicum? treatment?
- no clinical significance
- no treatment required
petechiae in the NB are especially present where?
- over presenting part
what can occur r/t sweat glands in NB
- milia –> tiny white bumps that most often appear on a newborn’s upper cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead
what skin assessment findings have potential for concern?(4)
- bruising
- jaundice
- central cyanosis
- pallor
where might bruising occur in the NB (2)
- facial bruising
- bruising to head d/t face presentation
what may cause bruising to NB (2)
- forceps assisted birth
- vacuum extraction
jaundice is never normal in NB what PP period
- first 24 h
central cyanosis in the NB is…
- abnormal
pallor in the NB is…
- abnormal
what is assessed r/t head & face of NB (5)
- appearance
- shape
- size
- facial symmetry
- moulding
describe the presence of moulding in the NB
- may or may not be present
describe the size of NB head
~ a fourth of NB body length
describe symmetry of the face in NB
- should be symmetrical
fontanels and sutures of the NB are impacted by?
- degree of moulding
fontanels and sutures of NB should not be… we should be able to..
- should not be bulging or swollen
- should be able to palpate suture lines
describe the shape & size of anterior fontanel
- diamond shaped
- 5cm
describe the shape and size of posterior fontanel
- triangular shaped
- 3cm
the chin of the NB should be ?
- distinct
what should be assessed r/t eyes of the NB (4)
- placement
- symmetry for size and shape
- discharge
- presence
describe the eyebrows of NB
- should be distinct
describe the eyes & space between eyes in NB
- each 1/3 the distance from outer left to outer right canthus
describe discharge in eyes of NB
- should be none
describe pupils of NB (4)
- present
- equal in size
- assess reactivity to light
- physician or nurse will check red reflex
what should be assessed r/t NB ears (4)
- size
- placement
- cartilage
- open auditory canal
describe placement of ears in NB
- line drawn thru inner and outer canthi of eyes reaching to top notch of ears (at junction w scalp)
describe cartilage of ears in NB
- well formed & firm
NB should respond to sounds. this is influenced by?
- state of alertness/activity
what is assessed r/t NB nose (4)
- shape
- placement
- patency (both nares should be patent)
- discharge
what is assessed r/t mouth of NB (7)
- color
- appearance
- symmetry
- soft & hard palate
- tongue
- saliva
- presence of teeth
describe presence of natal teeth in NB
- not usually present
- if present, risk for aspiration = usually extracted
describe symmetry of lips in NB
- should have symmetrical lip mvmt
- no clefts
describe tongue of NB (4)
- tongue not protruding
- freely movable
- symmetrical shape/mvmt
- pink
what is a normal variation of NB tongue
- tongue tie –> needs to be noted
describe the soft & hard palate of NB
- should be intact
- no clefts
describe uvula of NB
- should be midline
describe color and moisture of mouth of NB
- should be moist & pink throughout
describe chin of NB
- should be distinct
what reflexes r/t mouth should be present in NB? these can be affected by?
- rooting & sucking reflexes
- can be affected by state of alertness/hunger
what are epstein pearls?
- very small cysts that can appear in a baby’s mouth that look like tiny, white bumps
where can epstein pearls present in NB (2)
- along soft/hard palate
- gums
define: caput succedaneum
- generalized edematous areas of scalp
caput succedaneum can be accompanied by? what relationship does it have w suture lines
- can be accompanied by ecchymosis
- crosses suture lines
how long does it take for caput succedaneum to resolve
- 3-4 days
describe the risks of caput succedaneum to NB
- normal variation
define: cephalhematoma
- collection of blood between a skull bone and its periosteum
describe the relationship between cephalhematoma and suture lines
- does not cross suture lines
describe the appearance of cephalhematoma when baby crued
- does not pulsate or bulge when baby cries
describe onset & duration of cephalhematoma
when is it largest?
- onset: several hrs or day after birth
- largest on 2nd or 3rd day
- duration: fullness esolves in 3-6 weeks
cephalhematoma is more common with…
- assisted birth
define: subgaleal hemorrhage
- bleeding into subgaleal compartment
describe the risk of subgaleal hemorrhage
- most dangerous
describe the relationship between subgaleal hemorrhage and suture lines
- crosses suture lines
subgaleal hemorrhage is associated with?
- vacuum assisted birth
why is subgaleal hemorrhage considered dangerous
- potential space - loosely arranged CT - blood loss in this space can be severe
what is vital w subgaleal hemorrhage
- early detection
what assists in detected of subgaleal hemorrhage (2)
- serial head circumference measurements for newborns w vacuum assisted birth
- assessment of back of neck for edema & masses w vacuum extraction
what are potential assessment findings associated w subgaleal hemorrhage (6)
- boggy scalp
- pallor
- tachycardia
- increasing head circumference
- forward position in of the NB ears
- changes in NB LOC
what may be required w subgaleal hemorrhage
- blood transfusion
what is assessed r/t NB neck (3)
- freedom of movement (flexion & extension)
- flexibility
- bruises
what should not be present in NB neck (3)
- webbing
- masses
- bruising
bruising of NB neck can potentially be from…
- nuchal cord
the head of NB should be ______, trachea should be ____
- head should be midline
- trachea should be midline
describe the thyroid of the NB
- should not be palpable
NB necks are generally ___ with lots of ____
- generally short w lots of skin folds
what is assessed r/t NB chest (3)
- shape
- appearance
- color
what shape of the NB chest is normal?
- circular
describe the ribs of NB (3)
- should be symmetrical
- intact
- should have symmetrical mvmt with respirations
describe the nipples of NB
are usually:
- prominent
- well formed
- symmetrically placed
breast nodule of NB is ~ ___. what is the normal variation? theres the potential for ___?
- ~6mm
- normal variation: 3-10 mm
- potential for discharge