Newborn Child Flashcards
Why are changes at birth required
In the foetus some organs are not fully functional, as a result some changes are required at birth to give fully functional organs
Describe foetal lungs
They are collapsed or partially filled
When is a lung surfactant produced by the foetus
At six months
Whilst in utero what, in terms of the respiratory system, is the foetus dependent on the mother for
Oxygen supply and removal of carbon dioxide
What happens to the respiratory system at birth
Oxygen supply ceases, carbon dioxide accumulates, the respiratory centre in the brain is stimulated
What does stimulation of the respiratory centre in a baby at birth result in
The baby drawing its first breath
What are 3 important things to note in terms of the baby’s first breath
- Unusually deep
- Inflates the lungs
- The surfactant prevents the collapse of alveoli
What is the respiration rate of a newborn baby
45 breaths per minute
Why are the adaptations in foetal circulation present
In order to counteract the lack of lung function and to incorporate the fact that the foetus receives blood from the mother
What is the function of the shunts in foetal circulation
To by-pass blood
What 3 shunts are present in the foetal circulatory system
One in the heart
One ensures blood from the mother by-passes the liver and goes straight to the heart.
One prevents too much blood going to the collapsed lung
Why do newborns dehydrate easily
They are not good at concentrating urine
What happens to renal function once a baby is born
Babies have sole responsibility for maintaining fluid balance and waste disposal. However this takes a few years to fully mature
What are the feature of the foetal GI tract
There is limited secretion of enzymes and hormones
What changes does this first milk cause in a newborn
Rapid increase in gut size and stimulation of digestive juices and motility
Why do newborns use fat and glycogen stores
Because it takes a few days to establish the necessary components of the GI tract
Describe the characteristics of the environment in the mother’s uterus
Warm, moist and constant
Why can newborns lose heat easily
They have a large surface area relative to volume
What do babies have to help control heat changes
Brown adipose tissue
What is brown adipose tissue
Extra brown fat
How much brown adipose tissue are babies born with
200g
This makes it a high proportion of their body mass
What does brown adipose fat do
Generate heat
What is the advantage of babies being well vascularised
Heat generated by brown adipose tissue can be spread to the rest of the body
