Neonate Flashcards
Acrocyanosis
Cyanotic appearance of the newborns hands and feet in the immediate newborn period; Docks one point on apgar score;
ONLY normal in first 24 hours
AGA
Refers to the newborn: Appropriate for Gestational Age
Babinski’s Reflex
Stroke the plantar from heel upward and across the ball to the great toe; Expected response: toes fan and hyperextend with dorsiflexion of the great toe
Ballard tool
Physical/neurological assessment of the newborn; used to determine accuracy of gestational age
Barlow’s test
Assessment of newborn’s hips in which the hip is flexed and the the thigh is abducted as it is pushed posteriorly to the line of the femur’s shaft; used to detect hip dysplasia
Caput succedaneum
Edematous area on the newborn skull; most often evident on the occiput following vaginal delivery
Cephalohematoma
Unilateral swelling of the newborn head present within the first 3 days of life caused by collection of blood between the skull bone and periosteum
Colostrum
Thin, yellow breast milk seen in late pregnancy and first 1-3 days postpartum
Epispadias
Abnormal positioning of the urinary meatus on the dorsal (upper) side of the penis
Erythema toxicum
Newborn rash, often to face and trunk, characterized by pustules with red base; usually resolves spontaneously
Extrusion reflex
Outward protrusion of the newborn’s tongue when touched
Grasp reflex
-Palmer/plantar
Newborn’s finger/toes curl in response o examiner’s finger placed in the palm or ball of foot
Hyperbilirubinemia
Excess of serum bilirubin resulting from breakdown of rbc’s, leading to jaundice
Hypospadias
Abnormal positioning of the urinary meatus on the ventral (upper) side of the penis
Imperforate anus
Congenital defect in which the opening to the anus is missing or forms a blind pouch
Kangaroo Care
Positioning the newborn and mother skin-to-skin for added warmth
Lanugo
Downy hair on arms, back, face of the newborn
LGA
Large for Gestational Age
Mastitis
Inflammation and infection of the breast
Meconium
First newborn bowel movement; greenish-black and tarry
Milia
Small white spots on the newborn nose caused by unopened sebaceous glands; disappear spontaneously
Molding
Elongated shape of the newborn skull resulting from overriding cranial bones to facilitate passage through the birth canal
Mongolian spot
Dark bluish spot that appears most commonly on the buttocks of dark-skinned newborns that gradually fade; may be mistaken as bruise
Moro reflex (startle reflex)
Newborn symmetrically abducts arms with fingers spread to form a “C” before returning to flexed position; asymmetric response may indicate clavicle or brachial plexus injury
Polydactyly
Extra digit on hand or foot
RDS
Respiratory Distress Syndrome; due to immature lungs and usually lack surfactant
Rooting reflex
Turning of head and opening of the newborn mouth elicited by stroking lower lip or cheek
SGA
Small for Gestational Age
Syndactyly
Webbing between the fingers or toes
Tonic neck reflex
Infant’s head turned to left, arm/leg on that side extend; same is true when head turned to right
Trunk incurvation reflex
With the infant in prone position, stroke along one side of the spine; infant will curve body toward that side
Newborn VS
Axillary temp: 97.7-98.6 F (decreased sign of sepsis)
Auscultate apical for full min: 110-160 bpm
(report if resting pulse is 160)
RR: 30-60 (report if RR 60)
Neonate Period
From birth through the first 28 days life
Transitions from intrauterine to extrauterine life
Focus nursing care on neonate
- Maintaining body heat
- Maintaining RR
- Decreasing risk for infection
- Assisting parents in providing appropriate nutrition and hydration
- Assisting parents in learning to care for their newborn
Signs of respiratory distress in neonates
- Cyanosis -Hypotonia
- Abnormal pattern (apnea/tachypnea)
- Retractions of the chest wall
- Grunting
- Flaring Nostrils
2 major respiratory risk factors
- Decreased surfactant levels R/T immature lungs
2. Persistent hypoxemia & acidosis that leads to constriction of pulmonary arteries
Ductus Venosus
Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava; closes by day 3 of life and becomes a ligament; Blood flow through the umbilical vein stops once the cord is clamped
Foramen Ovale
An opening between the right atrium and left atrium, closes when the left atrial pressure is higher than the right atrial pressure
Significant neonatal hypoxia can cause a reopening of the foramen ovale
Ductus arteriosus
Connects the pulmonary artery with the descending aorta
Closes within 15 hours post-birth
Remains open if lungs fail to expand or PaO2 levels drop
