Newborn Complications Flashcards
SGA causes
Small Gestational Age
causes:
- maternal factors/disease/smoking
- environmental, placental and fetal factors
Complications of SGA & IUGR
- fetal hypoxia, asphyxia
- aspiration syndrome
- hypothermia
- hypoglycemia
- polycythemia
- hyperbilirubinemia
Care for SGA is aimed…
at promoting growth (feeding and NTE) and caring for complications
IUGR
intrauterine growth restriction
- advanced gestation
- extremes of maternal age
- lack of prenatal care
- low socioeconomic status
IUGR associated with…
- hypoglycemia (very common)
- congenital malformations
- intrauterine infections
future:
- growth difficulties
- cognitive delays
Differentiating SGA and IUGR
-not synonymous
SGA NB is constitutionally small but otherwise normal
IUGR is a fetus with delayed growth late in gestation. May not have a reduction in birth weight significant enough to be classified as SGA
Prognosis for SGA
-symmetric SGA most likely stay small
Prognosis for IUGR
- often catch up by 2nd year
- greater risk for impaired school performance, behavior problems, and poor fine motor control
- as adults, IUGR infants are at a greater risk for obesity, type 2 DM and cardiovascular dz
Post-maturity syndrome
cause: unknown, more common in certain ethnicities (Australian, Greek and Italian)
complications:
- higher risk for morbidity
- hypoglycemia and cold stress
- meconium aspiration
- polycythemia
- seizure activity
- congenital anomalies
Post-term infant
Assessment:
- dry, cracking skin
- no vernex/lanugo
- scalp hair profuse
- body long, thin
nursing care:
- most adapt well
- monitor blood glucose frequently
- assess respiratory status (risk - meconium aspiration)
- neutral thermal environment - provide warmth
Pre-term infant
- less than 37 weeks gestation
- 12 percent of all US births, 17 percent of all AA
- common in single mothers and adolescents
- rise in multiple births from IVF
- main problem is the variable immaturity of all body systems. Function is dependent on length of gestation
Thermoregulation
- glycogen and brown fat not available
- lose heat from blood vessels close to skin
- high ratio of body surface area to body weight
- extended position increases body surface area
- decreased vasoconstriction ability of superficial blood vessels
Nursing Care of the Preemie
- maintain respiratory function
- cluster care to promote rest
- maintain neutral environment
- balance fluids and electrolytes
- prevent infection
- provide adequate nutrition - breast milk is best and may fortified and given as slow continuous feed via pump. Donor milk if needed
- promote parent-infant attachment
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- inadequate surfactant production
- pulmonary blood vessels aren’t fully developed
- decreased pulmonary vascular resistance
- left-to-right shunting through ductus arteriosus
- increased blood flow back to lungs
- surfactant required for alveolar stability
- instability causes atelectasis
- atelectasis causes hypoxemia and acidosis
Nursing care for the infant with RDS
- before birth (prevent preterm birth, admin glucocorticoids)
- after birth (surfactant replacement therapy, assess for signs of distress, cluster care)
- monitoring blood gases and pulse oximetry
- respiratory support includes nasal cannula, CPAP or intubation with ventilator
