Module 3 - Neonatal Flashcards
physical development of the neonate is characterised by significant change in?
weight, length, head growth, vision, motor development
which clinical tool shows growth for breastfed infants?
WHO Child Growth Standards
which clinical tool shows a combined growth pattern for formula-fed AND breastfed infants?
CDC Growth Chart
weight at birth
2.7-3.8kg
average birth weight for non-indigenous newborns
3.36kg
average birth weight for indigenous newborns
3.2kg
how much weight do infants lose after birth and why is this?
5-10% of birth weight, fluid loss
weight gain
150-210g per week for 6 months
average length
50cm
what can cause the height, weight and circumference of a baby to vary?
ethnicity
why is head circumference important?
to determine the growth rate of the skull and brain
normal head circumference is called?
normocephaly
average head circumference
35cm
what can head circumference vary by?
1-2cm
chest circumference is usually what compared to the head circumference?
less than the head by 2.5cm
head and chest circumference at 9-10mths
the same
chest circumference after 1yrs old
larger than the head
why does head moulding occur? how long does this last?
due to the fontanelles and sutures in the skull. usually fixes itself after a week.
what are fontanelles?
un-ossified membranous gaps in the bone structure of the skull
what are sutures?
junction lines of the skull bones that overlap to provide flexibility for moulding of the head
when does the anterior fontanelle close?
around 9-18months
when does the posterior fontanelle close?
2-3 months
newborn vision
- follow large moving objects
- blink in response to bright lights and sound
- slowly responding pupils
- eyes cannot focus on close objects
when can the baby focus gaze on objects and follow moving ones?
by one month
when can baby recognise their parent’s smile?
4 months
social smiles may appear as early as?
2 months
baby will have almost complete colour vision at?
4 months
when does depth perception fully develop?
by 12 months
Moro reflex
startle reflex involving spreading of the arms and fingers with sudden retraction of the limbs
what can the infant do within a few days (hearing)
distinguish between different sounds (mothers voice from another)
baby will coo, smile or gurgle to sounds and voices by
2-3 months
sucking reflex
feeding reflex occurring when the lips are touched
rooting reflex
feeding reflex occurring by touching the baby’s cheek, causing the head to turn to the side that was touched
the moro reflex is assessed to determine what?
the maturity of the central nervous system
how long does the moro reflex take the disappear
4 months
palmar grasp reflex
occurs when a small object is placed against the palm of the hand, causing the fingers to curl around it
plantar reflex
toes curl when pressure is placed on the sole of the foot
tonic neck reflex (TNR)
when the baby is lying on its back and has its head turned to one side, the limbs on the opposite side flex
stepping reflex
legs move up and down as if the baby were walking when holding baby upright with the feet touching the floor below
babinski reflex
when the sole of the foot is stroked, the big toe rises and the other toes fan out
what is the APGAR score?
an immediate assessment at birth providing a score based on 5 factors: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respirations
highest possible score on APGAR
10
when is the APGAR typically carried out?
1 minute after birth then 5 minutes after
normal APGAR score
7-10
critical APGAR score
<4
appearance score 1
blue extremities and pink body
appearance score 2
body and extremities pink
pulse score 1
<100 bpm
pulse score 2
> 100 bpm
grimace score 1
grimace on suction or aggressive stimulation
grimace score 2
cry on stimulation
activity score 1
some flexion of arms and legs
activity score 2
active flexion against resistance
respiration score 1
weak, irregular, slow
respiration score 2
strong crying
infant social development
displeasure by crying, satisfaction by soft noises
infants require how many ml of milk?
80-100ml / kg of body weight
how often do infants have to be fed?
2.5-4hrs
the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines recommend that newborns and infants are what?
breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months
what does breastmilk contain that is extremely important for newborns?
nutrients and antibodies protecting against common childhood illnesses
which two immunisations do infants receive at birth?
hepatitis B and vitamin K
what does vitamin K do?
helps the blood form clots and prevent serious blood loss
which document shows the immunisations needed across the lifespan?
the National Immunisation Program Schedule
