Health Promotion of the Newborn and Family Flashcards
Maturation of systems
Respiratory and cardiovascular systems change immediately at birth while other organ systems evolve over time
Respiration
-Most critical and immediate physiologic change
-Fetal lung fluid removal: compression of chest w/ passage thru birth canal, lymphatic vessels and pulmonary capillaries
-Expansion of alveoli: occurs w/ initiation of breathing, role of surfactant in keeping alveoli expanded
Circulation
-Foramen ovale circulatory changes allow blood to flow thru lungs
-Pressure changes in heart, lungs, vessels
-Functional closure of fetal shunts d/t increased oxygenation of blood: ductus arteriosus and venosus
Sequential circulatory changes
-Inspired O2 dilates pulmonary vessels
-Pulmonary vascular resistance decreases and pulmonary blood flow increases
-Pressure in RA, RV, pulmonary arteries decreases
-Gradual increase in systemic vascular resistance after campling of cord
Further circulatory changes
-LA pressure greater than RA pressure leads to closure of foramen ovale
-Increase of pulmonary blood flow and dramatic reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance begins to close the ductus arteriosus
Typical times for circulatory chnages
-Foramen ovale: close soon after birth
-Ductus arteriosus: closure in about 4 days after birth
-Failed closure of shunts takes blood away from pulmonary circulation
Thermoregulation
-Critical to survival
-Principal thermogenic sources: heart, liver, brain, brown adipose tissues (BATs)
-Babies born w/ lots of brown fat behind shoulder blades, newborns can’t shiver so brown fat acts as built-in heater
Factor predisposing newborn to excessive heat loss
-Large surface area results in heat loss
-Thin layer of adipose is poor insulator
-Can’t shiver –> produces heat thru nonshivering thermogenesis (NST)
Fluid and electrolytes
-BW is 73% fluid (adult is 58%)
-2x higher rate of metabolism than adult
-Immature kidneys produce more acid and inability to concentrate –> prone to dehydration, acidosis, overhydration
GI system
-Ability to digest, absorb, metabolize food is adequate: certain enzymes are limited
-Mucosa: barrier to foreign antigens
-Salivary gland fxn decreased
-Small stomach capacity
-Intestine longer than adult: increased absorption
Stool patterns
-Meconium: occurs 24-48 hrs after birth
-Transitional stools: appears by 3rd DOL
-Milk stools: usually appears by 4rth DOL, differences in breastmilk and formula stools
Renal system
-Fxnal deficiency in kidney’s ability to concentrate urine
-Total volume of urinary output per 24 hrs is 200-300 mL by end of 1st week
-Bladder capacity approximately 15 mL
-1st void occurs within 24 hrs after birth
-Newborn may void as many as 20x/day
-Urine is colorless, odorless, and specific gravity of 1.020
Skin
-Immature integumentary fxn
-Active sebaceous glands
-Eccrine (sweat) glands
-Apocrine glands small and nonfxnal
-Hair follicles
-Melanin low at birth: lighter skin than in later life, UV susceptibility
Musculoskeletal
-Large amt of cartilage than ossified bone
-Rapid ossification in 1st year of life
-Almost completely formed at birth
-Muscular growth by hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia
Immune
-Skin and mucous membranes 1st line of defence
-2nd line of defense is cells: neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes
-3rd line of defense is antibody formation: breastmilk provides passive immunity (IgG)
Endocrine
-Developed but fxn is immature
-ADH and vasopressin production is limited: risk of dehydration
-Effects of maternal sex hormones in newborn
Neurologic
-At birth, nervous system is incompletely integrated
-Primitive reflexes
-ANS crucial
-Myelination of nerves follows cephalocaudal-proximodistal progression
Sensory fxns
-Vision: pupils react to light, blink and corneal reflexes; tear glands have minimal fxn until 2-4 weeks
-Hearing
-Smell
-Taste
-Touch
Physical assessment phases
-Initial: APGAR
-Transitional: during periods of reactivity
-Gestational age
-Comprehensive, systemic
APGAR assessment
-Score of 1-10, score of 7-9 is normal
-Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration
-Score at ages 1 min and 5 min
-Reflects condition of infant
-Not used to determine need for resuscitation at birth