Newborn at Risk Flashcards
Weight <2500g (5.5lbs)
low birth weight (LBW)
Weight <1500g (3.3lbs)
very low birth weight (VLBW)
Weight <1000g (2.2lbs)
extremely low birth weight (ELBW)
Neonatal resuscitation is __________ focused
Neonatal resuscitation is respiratory focused. Not cardiac.
Babies are respiratory driven.
Weight below the 10th percentile for age
SGA: Small for gestational age
Weight between the 10th and 90th percentile for gestational age
AGA: Appropriate for gestational age
Weight above the 90th percentile for gestational age
LGA: Large for gestational age
SGA Characteristics
Wasted muscle tissue
Lack of brown fat
Scaphoid abdomen (sunken in)
Eyes appear large, “wise old man” look
Long fingernails
Meconium-stained thin cord often present
Conditions affecting SGA newborn
Cold stress/temperature instability- prolonged hypothermia with no brown fat reserves
Pain- if life-saving interventions indicated (ex. IV’s), they may be painful
Hypoglycemia- due to muscle wasting and low brown fat
Polycythemia- venous hematocrit ≥ 65% Red Baby!
LGA Characteristics
May be genetically large
More commonly exposed to imbalance of nutrients in utero
Ex. Infant of a diabetic mother
Conditions affecting LGA newborn
Hypoglycemia- chronic hyperglycemia in utero due to elevated maternal glucose levels (uncontrolled GDM)
Hypocalcemia- calcium levels should be > 7.5 mg/dL in preterm newborns and 8 mg/dL in term newborns. Low calcium levels can produce seizures in the newborn and may be present along with hypoglycemia
Birth injuries- one of two types: neurological injuries or bone fractures
Brachial plexus injuries (BPI)- occur when the nerves are stretched and leave the arm without function
Fractures- involve the clavicle, or long bones of the humerus or femur
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)- delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid
LGA newborns & shoulder dystocia
Nerve damage/paralysis:
-Brachial plexus injury (affects upper arm)
-Erb’s Palsy (affects upper and lower arm)
-Klumpke’s Palsy (affects hand and possibly eyelid on contralateral side)
Most completely recover. Follow up w/ therapy.
Born before 37 weeks
preterm
Born between 37-41 weeks
term
born on or over 42 weeks
post-term
-Born after 42 weeks’ gestation (3-14% of all pregnancies)
-Most are of normal size and healthy, may or may not be LGA
-Large fetus may have a difficult time passing through birth canal
-Potential problems: cephalopelvic disproportion and shoulder dystocia
post-term newborn
Post-term complications
Polycythemia (red baby!)
Meconium aspiration
Oligohydramnios
Congenital anomalies
Seizures
Hypoglycemia
Cold stress
Baby gets stressed during birth and poops, inhales meconium which is sticky and blocks airways/atelectasis develops (collapse portions/entire lung) leading to hypoxia
meconium aspiration