Examination of Newborn

Question 1

whats the setting for newborn exam?

Answer 1

within 72 hours of birth
at least one parent there
private, well lit, warm area
baby in nappy

Question 2

what questions do you need to ask the parents?

Answer 2

maternal history

• date/time of birth
• length of pregnancy
• complications
• antenatal screening
• breech - hip dislocation
• family history

newborn history

• feeding
• meconium
• urine

Question 3

what question do you need to ask when measuring the baby’s weight?

Answer 3

what were they when they were born?

Question 4

how do you measure the baby’s weight?

Answer 4

zero the scales with a blanket on

move the scales in small increments until balanced

Question 5

how do you measure baby’s height/

Answer 5

mat with a ruler on
clean it
straighten legs
block to head and feet

Question 6

what do you do when you’ve measured the baby’s height and weight?

Answer 6

document it on charts

Question 7

what are you inspecting for?

Answer 7

colour
- pallor
- cyanosis
- jaundice
- rashes, erythema
cry
posture
tone
- gently passive movement of limbs
- pick them up (try and stand them)

Question 8

what do you do with the baby’s head?

Answer 8

measure the circumference with a clean tape measure and record it

palpate the fontanelle

check the shape - cranial sutures

Question 9

what do you do with the baby’s face?

Answer 9

check for symmetry
look for signs of trauma
check their palate, tongue and gums
nose - nasal breathing and resp rate (20-40)
eyes - red reflex

Question 10

what are you looking at the baby’s neck and clavicles for?

Answer 10

length
webbing
swelling
fracture - shoulder dystonia (traumatic birth)

Question 11

what do you do with the baby’s upper limbs?

Answer 11

brachial pulses
palmar creases
count fingers

Question 12

why do you look at the baby’s chest?

Answer 12

deformities
expansion
auscultate hear - murmurs and rate (120-150)

Question 13

why do you look at the baby’s abdomen?

Answer 13

distention
palpate - regions and organs
umbilicus

Question 14

what are you checking the genitalia for?

Answer 14

male

• meatus position
• penis at least 2 cm
• palpate scrotum

female

• labia aren’t fused
• clitoris is a normal size
• discharge

both femoral pulses

Question 15

what are you looking for on the baby’s back and spine and how do you do it?

Answer 15

inspect spine and skin
turn the baby over whilst supporting the head - vice grip
ventro suspension - baby should lift head

Question 16

why are you looking at the baby’s lower limbs?

Answer 16

inspect them

Barlow's test
- flex the knees and hips
- then adduct the hips
and otorlani's test
- adduct the hips back in

Question 17

what do you do with the results?

Answer 17

record them, plot them

share them with the parents

Question 18

what are the stages of the newborn exam?

Answer 18

comfort
questions
height and weight
inspection
head
face
neck and clavicles
upper limbs
chest 
abdomen
genitals
back and spine
lower limbs
results