Newborn Adaptation Flashcards
What are some considerations r/t fetal lung fluid?
- Fulid produced in utero
- Fluids move to interstitial space during labor
- Epi and norepi (stress of labor) increase rate of absorption
- Absorption is delayed with a C-section
Describe fetal lung surfactant
- Detergent like lipoprotein
- Detectable by 24-25 weeks
- Reduces surface tension in alveoli so they remain partially open
- sUFFICIENT amount needs to be produced by 34-35 weeks to prevent alviolar collapse (different for mother with DM)
- Secretion increases during and after birth
- Steriods given in preterm labor help
Describe the mechanism that causes respiration in a newborn
INternal- Chemoreceptors are triggered and diaphragm is stimulated
- Externally: Skin sensors, responces to sounds and light all act on respiratory center
- -Cold air stimulates skin receptors
- -Compression during birth causes air to enter lungs
Why do the lungs of neonates sound moist?
-Fetal lung fluid is still moving
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What are the three fetal cardiac shunts?
- Foramen ovale
- Ductus venosus
- Ductus arteriosus
What happens that stimulates the cardiac shunts to close at birth?
-The infants response to O2 causes a shift in pressure
Describe the flow of fetal blood.
From the placent into the inferior vena cave
- into right A
- through Foramen Ovale into left A
- INto left Ven
- Through aorta
- Some blood goes into Pulm veins but remixes at the ductus arteriosis
- Circulates and exits back to plencent
How does the clamping of the umbilical cord help close cardiac shunts
It decreases the pressure in the Right A and increases systemic resistance
What is the function of the ductus venous?
Shunts 1/3 of blood from UV to inferior cava and away from immature liver
How is the ductus venousus affected at clamping
Occlusion of cord stops flow of blood from placenta through UV to ductus venosus
-allows blood to flow through the liver
What is the function of the foramen Ovale?
Valve allows flow of blood between the RA and LA so that the blood bypasses the lungs and goes directly into the LV and aorta
-R to L shunt
How is the Foramen ovale affected at clamping
- Cord occlusion elevates systemic resistance; blood returns from PV to LA, both increases L heart pressure
- Decreased pulmonary resistance allows free flow of blood into lungs and decreased pressure in RA
- Closes at birth d/t pressure changes
What is the function of the fetal pulmonary blood vessels?
Narrowed vessels increase resistance to blood flow to lungs
How are the fetal pulmonary vessels affect at clamping?
- Elevated blood oxygen and removal of fetal lung fluid
- Decreased pulmonary resistance allows blood to enter freely to be oxygenated
- Transition occurs with first breath
What is the function of the Ductus Arteriosus?
Widely dilated to carry blood from PA to aorta and avoid nonfunctioning lungs
How is the ductus arteriosus affected by clamping?
- Increase of oxygen level in blood
- Blood in PA is directed to lungs for oxygenation
- Functional within minutes after birth, complete constriction 1-6 days
- Permanent 1-4 mos
How do low levels of O2 at birth affect Cardiac shunts?
Low levels of oxygen in the blood (asphyxia at birth, becomes hypoxic, or is preterm) may cause the DA to dilate and the PV to constrict increases resistance to blood flow to the lungs
-This results in the opening of the foramen ovale to allow a right-to-left shunt of blood and flow from the pulmonary artery through the DA and into the aorta
How fast can a newborn lose heat?
0.5 degrees F to 1.7 degrees F per minute if infant is not kept warm at birth
What are some characteristics that lead to heat loss?
- Thin skin close to blood vesses and with very little SQ fat
- 3x more surface area
A healthy, term infant requires a position of ____ what does this help reduce
Flexion
-Reduces heat loss
How do neonates produce heat
- nonshivering Thermogenesis*
- They burn brown fat as fuel the heat is transfered to the blood passing through the fat and is distributed throughout the body
What are the three concequences of reduced neonat body temp?
- Increased metabolic rate
- Brown fat metabolism
- Vasoconstriction
How does hypothermic induced increased metabolism affect the infant?
-increased glucose demand =hypoglycemia
-Increased O2 use
=reduced surfacant and hypoxemia
This leads to respiratory distress and can even cause the return to fetal circulation
How does the burning of brown fat affect the infant?
- Acids are produced
- Metabolic acidosis
- Displaced bilirubin
Causes Jaundice
How does hypothermic induced Vasoconstriction affect the infant?
- Peripheral vascular constriction = Pale, cold, mottled skin
- Pulmondar vessel constriction
Leads to return of fetal circulation and Respiratory distress