The normal newborn Flashcards
After what gestation is the newborn considered a term infant?
37 weeks
At what gestation is the newborn considered a post term infant?
41 weeks
What is the normal weight range of healthy infants?
2.5kg to 4kg
What 3 tests should an infant have in the first day of life?
Universal hearing screening
Hip screening and USS if needed
Metabolic (heel prick test)
What conditions does the guthries heel prick test detect?
Thyroid disease PKU MCADD (CF) (Maple syrup urine disease) (Sickle cell disease)
What substance are you looking for in the guthrie test which would signify CF?
Immunoreactive trypsinogen
List what you are looking for in the examination of the newborns head?
Head circumference (Occipitofrontal) Moulding Overlapping sutures Fontanelles Cephalohaematoma Caput succedaneum Ventouse/forceps marks
What do you need to look for in the examination of the eyes of the newborn baby?
Size
Red reflex
Conjunctival haemorrhage
Squints - frequent
What could an absent red reflex in a newborn baby mean
Retinoblastoma
Cataracts
What do you need to look for in the ears of a newborn baby?
Position
External auditory canal
Family history of hearing loss
Tags/pits
What do you need to look for in the mouth of a newborn baby?
Shape Philtrum Tongue tie Palate Neonatal teeth Ebsteins pearls Sucking/rooting reflex
What is tongue tie in the newborn?
The frenulum attaching the toungue to the floor of the mouth is very tight, causing difficulties feeding etc
What are epsteins pearls? What should you do if you fins them on newborn examination?
whitish-yellow cysts that form on the gums and roof of the mouth in a newborn baby. No need for treatment they will usually clear in the first few weeks of life.
What should you do if you see neonatal teeth during your neonatal examination?
they should be removed before the infant leaves hospital.
What are you looking for in the examination of a newborns face?
Dysmorphism
What are you looking for in the examination of a newborns chest?
Chest shape Nasal flaring Grunting Tachypnoea In-drawing Breath sounds
What are you looking for in CVS examination of the newborn?
Colour Saturation – SaO2 Pulses: femoral Apex/thrills Heart sounds
What are you looking for in the abdominal examination of the newborn?
Moves with respiration Distension Bile stained vomiting Passage of meconuim Anus
What are you looking for in the genitourinary system of a newborn in the examination?
Normal passage of urine
Normal genitalia
Undescended testes
Hypospadius
What is hypospadius?
A condition in the male infant where the external urethral opening is in the wrong place.
What are you looking for in the examination of the musculoskeletal system of the newborn?
Limbs and digits Movement Contractures Spine Sacral dimples Hip examination Ortolani/Barlow
What are you looking for in the neurological system examination in the newborn?
Posture
Tone
Movement
Reflexes
What is erythema toxicum?
A self limiting red papular rash sometimes seen in the neonatal period. It is self limiting and no treatment required
What are milia in the newborn?
Tiny white bumps that appear across a baby’s nose, chin or cheeks. No treatment is needed as they usually disappear on their own in a few weeks or months
What are you looking for in examination of the skin of the newborn?
Dryness/cracking
Milia
Birth marks
Erythema toxicum
