NEWBORN ASSESSMENT PT. 4 Flashcards
N: The newborn’s spine is straight and flat.
The lumbar and sacral curves do not appear until the
infant beginsto use his back to sit and stand upright.
Feel along the length of the spine.
* N:There should be no masses, openings,
dimples, or tufts of hair.
Any of these findings may be associated with spina bifida
(an opening in the spinal column).
NORMAL FINDINGS FOR BACK
HAIR TUFT
SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA
SPINAL FLUID
MINGOCELE
FATTY TISSUE
LIPOMYELIMENINGOCELE
SPINAL NERVES
MYELOMENINGOCELE
Hair tufts and sacral pits can be associated with underlying
neural tube defects (e.g. spina bifida).
OBSERVE throughout:
o Behavior
o Posture
o Muscle tone
o Movements
o Cry
Examine Newborn reflexes:
o Moro
o Suck
o Grasp reflex
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT FOR NERUO
Indications for further investigation
Urgent follow-up FOR NEURO
Seizures
Altered state of consciousness
(decreased tone)
distinct tremors, jitteriness, or seizure activity
- Hypotonus
- Hypertonus,
(associated w/ neurologic
dysfunction)
ABNORMAL FINDINGS: A high-pitched, shrill cry
NORMAL FINGINS: The cry should be vigorous and of medium pitch.
Newborn should demonstrate the ___ ____ of
sneezing,coughing, blinking, and withdrawing from painful
stimuli.
protective reflexes
When an object is placed in the infant’s hand and strokes
their palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it..
PALMAR GRASP REFLEX
A newborn infant will turn its head toward anything that
strokes its cheek or mouth to aid breastfeeding.
ROOTING REFLEX
Causes the child to instinctively suck
anything that touches the roof of
their mouth, absence of this reflex
is most apparent during feeding
SUCKING REFLEX
When the soles of the infant’s feet
touch a flat surface they will appear
to walk by placing one foot in front
of
the other
STEPPING REFLEX
