OB Module 5: Complications of the Newborn Flashcards
How has fertility rate in the US recently
it hit a 3% drop from 2016 to 17 leading to a historic low
Birth rates have lowered in all age groups except…
women in their 40s
In 2017 pre term ___ ___rose 9.93%
birth weight
How many deaths per 100,000 live births occur in the US
597
Leading Causes of Infant Death
- Congenital Malformations, Deformations, and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight: not elsewhere classified
- SIDS
Infant Morality means…
infant death before their first birthday
Infant morality gives information…
on maternal and infant health and is also an important marker for overall health of society
What is the importance of the NICU
they were made in the US in the 1960s and newborn mortality rate
Maternal Risk Factors
Low Socioeconomic Status (effects the below point)
Limited access to health care, especially prenatal care
Environmental exposure; high altitude (affects oxygenation)
grand multiparity (exhaustion from so many babies)
multiple gestation pregnancy
poor maternal nutrition
pre existing maternal conditions
maternal age and parity
complications of pregnancy
___ and ___ mothers are at the highest risk for complications
youngest and oldest
What are some pre existing maternal conditions that are risk factors for complications
heart disease
DM
HGTN
preeclampsia
renal disease
What are some neonatal risk factors for complications
birth weight
gestational age
type and length of newborn illness
environmental exposures in uteri
delayed bonding
SGA
small for gestational age
less than 2500 grams or 10th percentile on birth chart - so about 5.5 pounds or less
LGA
large for gestational age
greater than 4000 g and 90th percentile -8.8 pounds or more
Less than ___ weeks is preterm
37
Early Term is when
between 37-38 weeks and 6 days
Full term is when
39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days
Late term is when
41 weeks to 41 weeks and 6 days
Post term is when
anything beyond 42 weeks
What is essential to picking up complications early in the newborn period
regular assessments and vital sign checks
What is essential to do since newborns have little reserve
it is essential to address complications as they start in order to minimize potential long term impacts
What are the categories of Risk factors for Newborn Complications?
- Prenatal or Antenatal (during pregnancy) -maternal or fetal
- Intrapartal (during delivery)
- Postpartum (after delivery)
SGA is under ___ g or ___ pounds. that is the ___ percentile
25000 g or 5.5 lbs. 10th percentile
SGA is based on ___ not ___
weight not time (it can be pre term or post)
What is associated with SGA
decreased placental function
IUGR
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
SGA + Additional Complication
May be thin, pale, loose dry skin, umbilical cord thin and dull instead of thick and shiny
May appear small all over or malnourished
IUGR is related to what things?
Gestational Diabetes / Uncontrolled Diabetes
rubella
CMV
toxoplasmosis
syphilis
malnutrition
lung disease
HTN or heart disease
kidney disease
anemia
sickle cell anemia
smoking
drinking alcohol or drug abuse
chromosomal defects in the fetus
multiple gestations - twins or triplets
What things can cause SGA
asphyxia
aspiration syndrome
hypothermia
hypoglycemia
polycythemia
things associated with decreased placental perfusion/function
IUGR is SGA + Additional complications: What are some of the additional complications
congenital malformations
intrauterine infections
continued growth difficulties
cognitive difficulties
Example Nursing Diagnoses for IUGR/SGA
Risk for impaired gas exchange related to meconium aspiration
risk for ineffective thermoregulation secondary to decreased subcutaneous fast
altered nutrition
risk for altered parenting related to lack of knowledge of infant care and prolonged separation of infant and parent secondary to illness
Not all SGA is ___
IUGR
What are some risk factors for LGA
Infant of a diabetic mother
Erythroblastosis fetalis
cardiac etiology - transposition of great vessels
multiparity
prior history of macrocytic infant
postdate gestation
maternal obesity
male fetus
genetics
Complications of LGA infants
cephalopelvic disproportion
increased incidence of Cesarean birth and induction of labor
hypoglycemia, polycythemia, hyper-viscosity
jaundice secondary to hyperbilirubinemia
Cepalopelvic Disproprtion
when the babies head does not fit through the pelvis (LGA)
Characteristics of an infant of a diabetic mother
Macrosomia (over 4000g or 8.8 pounds) or SGA
ruddy in color
excessive adipose tissue
large umbilical cord and placenta
decreased total body water
excessive fetal growth from exposure to high levels of maternal glucose
potential Organomegaly (increased organ weight)
25-42% of diabetic pregnancies are macrosomia for the infant d/t…
insulin
Why can a diabetic mother give birth to an LGA or SGA infant
depends on blood flow and vascular impact of the diabetes on the mom before and after the pregnancy
SGA suffered from intrauterine malnutrition and have almost no glucose reserves for L&D - so uteroplacental circulation was impaired leading to poor growth patterns and hypoxemia –> Fetal distress in labor
Why are infants of diabetic mothers prone to shoulder dystocia
they have excessive fat on the shoulders and trunk oftentimes
this leaves them also predisposed to brachial plexus injury and overall body weight
LGA infants are often ___ in the first few hours post birth
hypoglycemic
Cephalopelvic Disproportion or Dysfunctional Labor pattern means…
a C Section may be needed
Complications in the Infant d/t the mother having diabetes
Hypoglycemia
Hyperbilirubinemia and Jaundice
Birth Trauma
Polycythemia
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
congenital Birth Defects like cardiac anomalies (most common), GI anomalies, and sacral agenesis
Poor eating habits
Why is birth weight NOT a reliable measure of maturity?
for example, LGA infants may not eat well and act like a preterm child despite looking past maturity
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
hemolytic disease of the newborn
results from a blood disorder like ABO incompatibility or Rh incompatibility
Most common incompatibility between mom and baby
ABO
Mom is O carrying Anti A and Anti B antibodies and the baby is A B or AB
Combs Test
a positive test will show agglutination and the baby will be jaundiced from high bilirubinemia (may need photolight therapy)
may cause slight anemia but should not need treatment - occurs with ABO incompatibility
also tests Rh incompatability
Rh Incompatibility
mom is Rh - and baby is Rh +
not usually a problem until subsequent pregnancies
1:1000 pregnancies
rarely seen now due to Rhogam in third trimester and after childbirth if baby is Rh+
___ and ___ increase with each pregnancy for a baby with Rh+ blood
risk and severity
What happens in a second pregnancy if this child is also an Rh + infant?
mild anemia to severe hemolytic anemia, edema, enlarged liver spleen and possible hydrops
Tests and treatments for erythroblastosis fetalis
Blood type
Coombs test
Rhogam
Phototherapy
Hydrops Fetalis
a severe abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more fetal compartments including ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and skin edema
rare but very fatal / high mortality
In some patients, hydrops fetalis is also associated with …
polyhydramnios and placental edema
Causes for Hydrops Fetalis
Hemolytic incompatibilities, severe anemias
Parovirus B19
Congenital Anomalies
Fetal Hemorrhage - intracranial intraventricular, hepatic laceration, subcapsular, placental subchorial
tumors
fetomaternal hemorrhage
twin to twin transfusion
isoimmune fetal thrombocytopenia
It used to be thought ___ ___ causes hydrops fetalis, but what disproved this?
Rh incompatibility - but Rhogam came in and it still occurs
How can twin to twin transfusion cause hydrops fetalis
if one identical twin receives too much blood and the other doesn’t get enough the hydrops can occur
early detection needs to see this to deliver the baby early
Isoimmune Fetal Thrombocytopenia causing Hydrops Fetalis
mom body recognizing non self antigens on fetal platelets and making antibodies to attack
the non self antigen comes from the dads side
if it is mild no treatment is needed, but severe cases cause fetal intracranial hemorrhaging leading to hydrops
Preterm infant
defined as an infant that is delivered less than 37 weeks gestation
could lead to needed NICU care
Preterm infant ability to survive is dependent on…
degree of prematurity and infants own strengths and weaknesses
In general infants born at less than ___ weeks are non viable
24 weeks
however some 23 week yo infants have survived but need serious help
If at delivery the infants eyes are fused and it weighs less than 500 grams…
general resuscitation is not done
Why do we bring pre term babies to the NICU
to see if the can maintain temperature, have respiratory efforts, can eat and tolerate food, maintain blood sugar etc
If all those things are ok then they can go to the normal nursery
Micro preemies need level ___ NICU
4
What are some complications associated with preterm infants in regard to alteration in respiratory and cardiac physiology?
apnea of prematurity
PDA - patent ductus arteriosus
RDS - respiratory distress syndrome
BPR - bronchopulmonary dysplasia
IVH - intraventricular hemorrhage
anemia of prematurity
aspiration
Apnea of Prematurity
no breathing for at least a full 20 seconds
if not a full 20 seconds than it is bradypnea
leads to bradycardia because of immature resp centers
turn blue color and may physical stimulation or O2 supports to get them to breath
typically this is outgrown
Anemia of Prematurity
exaggerated response from hypoxic state in utero to the hyperoxi state in utero
it is a normocytic, normochomic, hyperregenerative anemia
low serum erythropoietin levels occur despite low Hgb levels
cannot make new RBCs to mature
BASICALLY EVERYTHING IS IMMATURE (maybe from not enough building blocks)
Reticulocyte counts watched carefully but it tends to resolve in 3-6 months
A major complication of being a preterm infant in regard to alteration in thermoregulation is ___
hypothermia
What are some important preterm GI alterations
hypoglycemia
necrotizing enterocolitis
What are some important preterm immunologic alterations
neonatal infection
What are some important preterm neurologic alterations
reactivity periods and behavioral states
What are some important preterm ocular alterations
retinopathy of prematurity
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
when food is not moving through the intestines like it should and bacteria cause gas formation
this increases abdominal girth as a gas bubble gathers and increases risk for perforation leading to sepsis and can be fatal
What are some s/s of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
bradycardia
apnea
color changes
infant looks sick
Treatments for Necrotizing Enterocolitis
stop feedings
gastric tube suctions to keep GI tract empty
high doses of antibiotics
possible ventilatory support and intubation support
strict feedings to make sure food is digested
Necrotizing Enterocolitis may occur when what is done too quickly
feedings
so we should educate that when a preterm infant cries or does sucking motions it may not mean they are hungry but rather just have an innate need to suckle
What does quietness after anger and annoyance indicate in an infant
being overwhelmed
Retinopathy of Prematurity
normal vessels in the eye should grow following the curve of the retina
However, premies have vessels growing into the vitreous humor in fingerlike projections that become tortuous and twisted and engorged and if they rupture it can lead to blindness
Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity
careful eye exams and surgery if there are abnormalities in order to prevent blindness
Ductus Arteriosus
blood vessel allowing blood to go around the fetal lungs prior to birth
after birth the lungs fill with air and this closes within a couple of days after delivery
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
when the ductus arteriosus does not close
it leads to abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery
more common in girls
occurs in premies commonly
S/s of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
fast breathing
poor feeding
tiring easily
auscultated murmurs
tachycardia
SOB
poor growth
Intraventricular Hemorrhage
high incidence in infants under 30 weeks gestation
occurs since premie cerebral vessels are very fragile and bleed into the brain
this is important to consider when moving or transporting premies as their heads cannot take jarring movements
RDS
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Caused by lung prematurity
chest xray shows the atelectasis as hazy lung fields
What sort of infants get RDS?
60-80% are <28 weeks will develop
But even a full term baby can have it occur if there is no surfactant in the lungs
Common Predictors for RDS
Prematurity
C Section without labor
IDM (diabetes in mom)
2nd Twin`
Antepartal complications d/t RDS
hemorrhaging
asphyxia
How to treat RDS
give chemical surfactant
Consequences of RDS
lung scarring
increased risk of asthma (d/t scarring)
BPD - bronchopulmonary dysplasia
BPD
bronchopulmonary dysplasia
can occur if infant was on ventilation or oxygen for a long time
it is a chronic lung condition
greater risk for lung infections, respiratory sysital virus, and permanent bronchial changes occur