Newborn Vocabulary Flashcards
Size
(height and weight). 7.5 lbs and 19” long. Thin, wrinkly, splotchy, little body fat
Head to Body Proportions
Large head. 1/4 body size, rounded chest and protruding stomach, short legs compared to arms, pelvis and hips are narrow. Legs pulled up and bowed out. Short neck.
Facial Features
Eyes - grayish blue or dark, swollen, red splotches on white of eye, may be cross eyed, no tears for about 3 months
Mouth - tiny jaw and chin, puffy cheeks, short tongue, dry lips
Nose - short, flat to make nursing easier
Skin - blotchy, pink, dry and peeling, vernix, lanugo, loose and wrinkly, loose scalp, cold and blue due to poor circulation
Premature
Born before 37 weeks
Low Birth Weight
Born 5.5 lbs. or less
Fontanels
(Soft spot). Two open spaces in the baby’s skull to allow for movement during delivery and for the brain to grow. These will close together by 2 years old
Umbilical Cord
Cord that connected the baby to the mother and gave the baby food and oxygen. Will fall off in 1-3 weeks
Vernix
Cheesy, waxy substance that covers body while in womb. Sticks to the lanugo
Lanugo
Fuzzy hair covering the body to keep the fetus warm and to give the vernix something to adhere to.
Jaundice
Yellow coloring in skin and eyes due to liver not working properly yet
Marks
(Birth marks, Angel Kiss, Stork Bite, Mongolian Spot). Pink spots where blood vessels broke - usually go away.
Sucking Blister
Callous in center of top lip
Milia
Pimples due to oil glands beginning to work. Leave them alone (don’t pinch) or put a warm towel on them. They will last about 3 weeks
Cradle Cap
Dry, flaky, crusty scalp. Rub the scalp with a baby brush
Swollen Genitals
Out of proportion in size due to the large amounts of mother’s hormones
Bones and Teeth
Teeth usually not seen at birth. Bones are still rubber-like and can bend easily. Heal bone formed after birth, knee caps form about 2 years old, and there are 3 bones in a 1 year old’s hand and wrist - there are 28 in ours
Cognitive Abilities
Smell - best developed sense. Knows smell of mom and mom’s milk. (Likes sweet smells and makes a disgusted face if it doesn’t like a smell)
Hearing - Likes high pitched sounds and voices. Will turn towards parents voices
Taste - Natural sweet tooth - avoid sugar
Touch - Bond, love, feels safe and secure, communicates, improves antibodies
See - Weak limited vision. 20/700 vision at birth. Can see 8-15” away. Sees color beginning around 3-4 months old.
Physical Abilities
Head and Neck Control - Weak neck muscles and big heavy head so that the head falls back. Support these!
Motor Development - Mostly reflexes at first but soon gains control of their muscles
Reflexes
Rooting/Sucking - When cheek is stroked, baby turns head and opens mouth. Sucking movements begin to imitate eating.
Grasping or Darwinian - Palmar = palm of hand touched and baby makes a fist around it. Plantar = bottom of toes touched and toes curl and tighten.
Moro (startle) - Baby’s arms and legs thrown out. Head falls back and extends.
Tonic Neck/Fencing - Fencer arm position, one arm back and one arm extended forward
Babinski - Sole of foot stroked and toes fan out.
Walking/Step - Baby held under arms will make stepping motion
Silver Nitrate
Antiseptic put in baby’s eyes to prevent infections that might have passed from the mother during the vaginal delivery
Blood Test
For Anemia/PKU/Cystic Fibrosis. Done by heel prick and analyzes drops of blood
APGAR Score
Test done at 1 min and 5 min after delivery to test newborns physical development, ability to adapt, and chance for survival
Circumcision
Removal of foreskin around tip of penis. Optional procedure
Sleeping
Place baby on their back to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Baby will spend 17-20 hours sleeping but not all at one time Growing and Developing is tiring
Feeding
Choose between formula and breast milk. There are pro’s and con’s to each. Eat 8-12 times a day - spend 3 hours a day feeding. Their tiny stomachs only hold 2-3 oz. and they burn it quickly so they need to eat often.
Bonding
Forms secure attachments, feelings of trust, safety, and strengthens the baby. Builds 5 areas of growth and development that are necessary for success in life
Meconium
First bowel movement. Black tar-like substance. Dangerous if released in womb. Will spend 1 hour each day changing diapers
Let Down Reflex
The hormone, Oxytocin, causes milk to come into the mother’s breast in preparation for breast feeding.
Pediatrician
The doctor that cares for the baby/child while it is growing up
