Healthy Term Infant

Question 1

what period is classed as term and post-term

Answer 1

term = after 37 weeks completed gestation
post-term = after 41 weeks completed gestation

Question 2

what is the normal weight of a term infant

Answer 2

2.5-4 kg

if over then large of gestational age(LAG), if under then small for gestational age(SAG)

Question 3

give some examples of features of the infants environment during labour that make it an uncomfortable journey

Answer 3

hypoxic during contractions, placental insufficiency, growth restriction or excess, prolonged labour reduced foetal reserves

Question 4

in what ways are healthy term infants equipped to cope with labour

Answer 4

foetal Hb helps release O2, increased cortisol and adrenaline enhances adaptation

Question 5

give some examples of what occurs during a babies perinatal adaptation

Answer 5

first breath/cry, alveolar expansion, change from foetal to newborn circulation, increased PaO2

Question 6

what score is used to monitor perinatal adaptation

Answer 6

Apgar score

Question 7

what are the components of the Apgar score

Answer 7

HR, RR, responsiveness, tone and colour

normal score = 8 or above

Question 8

what is given to prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn, and when is it given

Answer 8

IM or Oral Vitamin K, given soon after birth, when they are newborn
(quite rare)

Question 9

give some examples of infection risk based on the maternal history

Answer 9

Hep B, Hep C, HIV, Syphilis, TB

Question 10

what 2 basic things are crucial to a healthy baby staying healthy

Answer 10

keeping warm and being fed

Question 11

what maternal vaccinations are given to protect infants

Answer 11

Pertussis(whooping cough) and Influena if its flu season

Question 12

when does the routine vaccination programme start and what is the exception

Answer 12

at 8 weeks, unless at increased risk of Hep B will get it much sooner

Question 13

what is used to screen newborn babies for congenital diseases

Answer 13

Blood Spot Screening Card, used to be called Guthrie card

Question 14

what is screened for in newborn babies

Answer 14

CF(by IRT, Thyroid function(by TSH) and variety of metabolic diseases

Question 15

what other screening tests are done on newborn babies

Answer 15

universal hearing screening, top to toe examination of baby(pick up any abnormalities) and Hip screening(examining hip position etc.)

Question 16

what are some of the head observations that may be seen in newborn examination

Answer 16

overlapping sutures, moulding, fontanelles, forceps marks, cephalhaematoma, caput succadeneum

Question 17

describe what caput succadeneum is

Answer 17

soft tissue swelling on newborns head, usually goes away in 12 hours

Question 18

how can you tell the difference between a cephalhaematoma and caput succadeneum

Answer 18

cephalhaematoma stops at/within the suture line