Preterm Newborn Flashcards
What is considered a preterm newborn?
A baby born before 37 weeks of gestation or more than 3 weeks before the due date
A preterm infant may be ___, ______, or ____
SGA, normal, or LGA
What causes respiratory problems in preterm newborns?
decrease amounts of surfactant prduce in the lungs
What respiratory problems do preterm newborns usually have?
lack of pulmonary compliance and alveolar collapse
What causes problems for a preterm newborn’s thermoregulation?
lack of brown fat available for metabolism;
lack of glycogen available in the liver
A premature infant is high vulnerable to ___________
hypothermia
What are some nutritional factors in a preterm newborn?
- Poorly developed gag reflex and incompetent cardiac sphincter
- Small stomach capacity
- Poor ability to convert essential amino acids
- Kidney immaturity
- Decreased bile salts and pancreatic lipase
- Poor suck-swallow reflex
A premature infant is highly susceptible to ________
SEPSIS
What is hyperbilirubinemia?
Excessive break down of RBC releases large amounts of bilirubin into the blood stream
What is a result of high levels of bilirubin left untreated?
Kernicterus
What are some high risks for preterm newborn in terms of the neurological system?
Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Intracranial Hemorrhage
What are the three health conditions of the mother that may contribute to preterm labor?
- Diabetes
- heart disease
- Kidney disease
What are some pregnancy related problems that increase the risk of preterm labor?
- incompetent cervix
- birth defects of the uterus
- history of preterm delivery
- infection (such as UTI or amniotic membrane infection)
- poor nutrition
- preeclampsia
- PROM and aburptio placenta
What are other factors that increase the risk of preterm labor?
- age younger than 16 or older than 35
- lack of prenatal care
- low socioeconomic status
- use of tobacco, cocaine, or amphetamines
What is acrocyanosis?
Decreased circulation to the extremities
