Physical and gestational age assessment of the newborn Flashcards
White or Asian: pink, reddish, pale
Black: warmish brown tone
All babies: more ruddy if crying, acrocyanosis
Healthy, well-oxygenated, full term - Color Changes & Skin Characteristics
especially if cold
lacy pattern of dark & light areas
vasomotor fluctuations
Mottling
vasomotor disturbance; blood vessels on one side of body dilate (deep pink), other side constrict (pale)
Single or multiple episodes
Harlequin sign
first detectable on face & mucus membranes of mouth
Blanch tip of nose, gum line, forehead, sternum
Also examine sclera
Jaundice
Non-pathologic Unknown etiology Seen in first few days of life “flea-bite” dermatitis No Rx, peaks 24-48 hours of life, then disappears in hours or days
Erythema Neonatorum Toxicum (“normal newborn rash”)
Assess over abdomen
Should be elastic
Used to evaluate hydration, need to initiate feedings, presence of infectious process
Skin Turgor
Covers fetus in utero
Lubricates skin
White, cheeselike substance
Term or postterm: less present
Vernix Caseosa
Exposed sebaceous glands
Raised white spots on face, especially nose
Milia
Reddened areas over cheeks & jaws
Seen with difficult forceps delivery
Disappear in 1-2 days
Rare: facial paralysis
Forceps Marks
“Marked from birth”
Frequent cause of concern, anxiety, and blame
Cultural context
Birthmarks
Birthmark; Pale pink or red spots
Seen on eyelids, nose, lower occipital bone, nape of neck
Light-complected newborn; more noticeable if cries
Blanch, no clinical significance, disappear around age 2
Telangiectatic Nevi (“stork bites”, salmon patches)
Grey-blue pigmented areas
Lumbosacral or buttocks
Dark-skinned & Asian newborns
Disappear in late infancy or early childhood
Mongolian Spots
Flat, purple-red, sharply demarcated
Most often on face
Do not blanch, fade, or increase in size
Can be disfiguring
Nevus Flammeus (“port-wine stain”)
Dark red, rough-textured, sharply demarcated, raised
Usually head or face
Grow for several months, then shrink, but can take 7-10 years to disappear
Nevus Vasculosus (“strawberry marks”)
Flat, pigmented, sharply demarcated, “coffee with milk”
1 in 5 have them
1-3 spots okay, ># or > 5 mm linked to neurofibromatosis
Café au Lait Spots
Head 1/3 adult size
Circumference: 32-38 cm
Head circumference 2-3 cm > chest circumference
Measure from most prominent part of occiput to just above eyebrows
Head Circumference
Average: 30-36 cm
Lower edge of scapula, bring around anteriorly over nipple line
Chest Circumference
Large, ¼ total body size Palpate suture lines: open sutures or overriding? Identify fontanels Evaluate symmetry Evaluate molding
Newborn’s Head
Diamond-shaped, 2-3 cm wide x 3-4 cm long
Flat, but may swell with stooling, crying
Depressed = dehydration
Can feel pulsation of heart through it
Closes within 18 months
Fontanels: Anterior
Smaller, triangular in shape
May be almost closed at birth, but will be fully-closed by end of 2nd month
Fontanels: Posterior
Overriding of skull bones
Occurs as head accommodates to diameters of birth canal
Head seems elongated
Disappears spontaneously within few days
Asymmetry of Head: Molding
Diffuse, soft-tissue edema of scalp Caused by pressure on head in L & D Crosses suture lines Scalp ecchymosis ( blood into tissue) may be present Resolves in a few days
Asymmetry of Head: Caput Succadaneum (“caput”)
Collection of blood due to rupture of blood vessels between skull and periosteum No ecchymosis Doesn’t cross suture lines Slow process Resolves slowly; 2-6 weeks
Asymmetry of Head: Cephalohematoma
Closed much of time
Most often blue or slate-gray at birth
Darker eyes in darker-skinned
Permanent eye color can take up to 1 year
White spots (Brushfield’s) in periphery of iris
Lacrimal glands immature
Eyes
“cross-eyes”; Transient
Immature neuromuscular control
Disappears by 3-4 months
Strabismus
eye bleeding; (black filled)
Harmless
Due to pressure
Disappear in about a week
Subconjunctival Hemorrhages
Red reflex: pupil appears red-orange when ophthalmoscope directed on it
Blink reflex: response to shining bright light into eyes
Eyes: Reflexes
Pink, moist mucosa
Inspect lips, gums, palates
Epstein’s pearls - white or yellow cystic vesicles (fluid)
Precocious teeth - removed to orevent aspiration
Tongue: midline, mobile, normal short frenulum
Mouth
“Tongue-tied”; TX: frenotomy (ingual frenulum is cut)
Ankyloglossia
Short compared to abdomen
Round chest, thin chest wall with little musculature
Ribs soft & compliant
Tip of xiphoid may protrude
Thorax
Extra nipples, found along the “milk line” from upper, outer shoulders to middle of pubic
bone
Within normal limits
Thorax: Supernumerary Nipples
Males and females
Maternal hormones, crossed placenta
Persists 2-3 weeks
“Witch’s milk” - milk from newborn breast
Thorax: Breast Hypertrophy
Normal newborn cry
strong & lusty, medium pitch
High-pitched newborn cry
neurological disorders, hypoglycemia
Diaphragmatic, in synchrony with abdomen
Respiratory distress: G,F,R, seesaw respirations, sustained tachypnea, stridor on inspiration
Note abnormalities of AP diameter
Lung sounds: check anterior/posterior chest; noisy until lung fluid clears
Respirations
Auscultate entire cardiac region
Apical pulse for a full minute
120-150 BPM normal rate; no obvious irregularities in rhythm
S1: mitral & tricuspid valves closing
S2: aortic & pulmonary valves closing
Check peripheral pulses (brachial, femoral)
Heart Sounds
Becoming a routine measurement
Doppler or brachial cuff
Especially needed if distress, preterm, suspected cardiac anomaly
Normal BP range: 63-70/40-50
Blood Pressure Measurement
Round, symmetric contour, slightly protuberant, superficial veins often visible
Note bowel sounds
Palpation
Umbilical hernias
Abdomen
Note presence & size of labia majora/minora, clitoris, vaginal opening
Labia majora usually covers minora and vestibule
Clitoris large in neonatal period
Enlarged labia or vaginal discharge present due to maternal hormones
Pseudomenstruation: “withdrawal bleed”
Female Genitalia
Scrotum: relatively large, pigment Testes palpable Prepuce Phimosis - foreskin cannot be fully retracted over the glans penis Position of meatus Hydrocele
Male Genitalia
Inspect area for patency, fissures
Note passage first meconium; 90% by 24 hours
R/O imperforate anus & rectal atresia with digital exam if no stool by 48 hours
Anus
Place NB prone, inspect, palpate
Normal spinal curvature is C-shaped
Pilonidal region: √ for tuft of hair or sinus
Perianal area: normal dimpling
Posterior Surface
Symmetry of size & movement, posture at rest, fractures, lacerations, bruising, functional deficiencies
Breech NB may have hips, knees extended
Moro Reflex: checks damage to structures and function of CNS
Hands & feet: normal # digits, with normal formation
Nails not meconium-stained; nail length
Single palmar crease = Simian line
Plantar creases cover entire sole at term
Check position of feet: neutral midline position
Extremities
Affected hip has limited abduction; femur appears shortened, deeper thigh creases
“Ortolani’s Maneuver” & “Barlow”s Maneuver”: puts hip through full ROM, “click” if hip
dislocation suspected
Congenital Hip Dislocation
a brace used mostly for babies who have a hip disorder.
Pavlik Harness
- Jitteriness or tremors: rhythmic movements equal in amplitude; provoked by external stimuli like noise or handling
- Seizures: fast & slow components and don’t stop when examiner holds down limb
Neurologic Assessment
Protective: blink, gag, sneeze
Primitive: Moro
Feeding: rooting, sucking
Human Interaction: palmar grasp
Reflexes
Gestational age calculated from mother’s LMP
Prenatally, assess fetal age by ultrasound
After birth, physical exam leads to more accurate assessment of maturity
1970: Dubowitz exam
1979, rev. 1991: Ballard exam
Gestational Age Assessment
Posture: NB undisturbed, flat surface
More mature = more flexed
34 weeks’: froglike posture
36-38 weeks’: all extremities flexed
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Posture
Flex hand towards ventral forearm; wrist flexion
28-32 weeks’: 90 degrees
38-40 weeks’: 30 degrees
40+: 0 degrees
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Square Window
Flex arms for 5 seconds, then extend for 30 seconds, release
36-37 weeks’: stay extended
term: prompt recoil with passive extension
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Arm Recoil
Degree of knee flexion; measure angle
Place NB supine, flex thigh against abdomen, then extend lower leg
Immature: no resistance
Term: resistance
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Popliteal Angle
Supine, draw arm across chest towards opposite shoulder & note location of elbow
Term: marked resistance
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Scarf Sign
Supine, draw foot towards ear until resistance met
Immature: leg stays straight, foot goes to ear or beyond
Term: marked resistance
Breech: allow leg positioning to resolve first or inaccurate
Neuromuscular Evaluation: Heel-to-Ear
Preterm: thin, transparent, veins prominent
Term: opaque
Postterm: little or no vernix, skin cracks and peels
Physical Characteristics: Skin
Fine, downy hair covering body
Decreases as gestational age increases
Greatest amount at 28-30 weeks’ gestation; then disappears from face first, then trunk,
then extremities
Physical Characteristics: Lanugo
Sole crease exam only reliable first 12 hours, then skin dries
Develop anterior to posterior
Peeling noted
Blacks have less-developed sole creases at term
Physical Characteristics: Plantar Creases
Palpate with forefinger and middle finger; don’t grasp nipple, avoid trauma
Measures 5-10 mm at term; areola raised and stippled
As gestational age increases, breast tissue and areola enlarge
Physical Characteristics: Areola/Breast Bud
Physical Characteristics: Ear Formation/Cartilage
<36 weeks’: scrotum few rugae, testes in inguinal canal
36-38 weeks’: rugae anteriorly, testes upper part scrotum
Term: both testes descended, rugae cover pendulous scrotum
Physical Characteristics: Male Genitalia
30-32 weeks’: clitoris prominent, labia majora small & widely separated
36-40 weeks’: labia majora nearly covers clitoris
40+ weeks’: labia majora covers minora and clitoris
Physical Characteristics: Female Genitalia
Growth Grids
Plot NB’s weight, head circumference, length
90th percentile = Large for Gestational Age (LGA)
Remainder = Accurate or Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA)
G, F, R
Grunting, flaring, retractions