OB Module 1: Part 2 - The Newborn Flashcards
(279 cards)
The newborn experiences many physiological changes when transitioning to extra uterine life, these changes involve establishment of what things?
- Pulmonary Gas Exchange
- Neonatal Cardiovascular Pattern
- Stable Serum Glucose Level
- Thermoregulation
Assessment and monitoring of neonatal adaptation is needed for early detection of what complications?
Hypoxia Cold Stress Hypoglycemia Infection Polycythemia Hyperbilirubinemia
What are some of the Key Newborn Assessments
- VS, especially temperature, but BP is rarely done
- Nutrition
- Elimination
- Transition to extrauterine life
- activity state
- umbilical cord status
7/8/9. (Only if indicated) Glucose monitoring, bilirubin, circumcision assessment
Apgar Score
This score is indicative of the need for resuscitation, NOT the degree of asphyxia in a newborn
Each factor is scored 0, 1, or 2 and a lower number indicates need for resuscitation
When are infants apgar scored?
At 1 and 5 minutes of life, and if needed at 10 minutes
What are the 5 factors apgar scored?
Heart Rate
Respirations
Muscle Tone
Reflex Irritability
Color
Fetal lungs secrete ___ ___ throughout pregnancy
lung fluids
When does lung fluid production diminish in the fetus?
2-4 days before the onset of SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRING LABOR (may not all be gone if we induce labor)
How much lung fluid remains in the passageway of a full term newborn?
80-100 mL of lung fluid
This will need to be expelled or absorbed after delivery
How is part of the lung fluid pushed out of the infant?
During labor and birth, fetal chest is compressed and this squeezes part of the fluid out
This is called VAGINAL SQUEEZE
What 2 ways is the remaining infant lung fluid disposed of?
- Vaginal Squeeze
2. Absorption by the lymphatic system
Why can you hear fine crackles over the lungs in the newborn?
Because of the lung fluid remaining there
Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)
A repsiratory complication at risk of developing in infants that have difficulty clearing the remaining lung fluid
Why are C Section babies at higher risk for TTN
They did not get the vaginal squeeze to force some fluid out
Why is the chest recoil so important to the initiation of infant resp. stimulation?
It can mechanically stimulate the first breath and respiration (chest recoil occurs during vaginal squeeze)
What are some Chemical Stimuli that initiative infant respiration?
- Increased PCO2 and decreased pH and PO2 from inspiratory gasp
- Changes in aortic and carotid chemoreceptors which trigger the brains respiratory center
- Hormonal - prostaglandin drop
Inspiratory Gasp
first infant breath
triggered by increased PCO2 and decreased pH and PO2
How does a drop in prostaglandins contribute to respiration in the newborn?
It is released by the placenta during pregnancy to suppress respiration, but with the clamping of the cord - the levels drop and there is a rise in inspiratory drive
How does PO2 rise in the newborn?
It starts at 65% in the first minute of life, and then increases 5% every minute for 5 minutes and then is at 90-95% at ten minutes
Skin goes cyanotic to pink remarkably fast
What is the mechanical stimuli that initiates infant respiration?
Natural result of a normal vaginal birth as the “vaginal or thoracic squeeze” is released at the delivery of the chest allowing for lung expansion
What is the thermal stimuli that initiates infant respiration
Significant decrease in environmental temperature after birth stimulates skin nerve endings leading to the newborn responding with rhythmic respiration
Excessive cooling of the infant may lead to…
profound respiratory depression as a result of “cold stress”
Sensory Stimuli: How does Intrauterine life differ from Newborn Experiences at delivery?
Intrauterine: Dark, sound dampened, fluid filled environment, weightless
Newly Born: Light, sounds, gravity effects, abundance of tactile/auditory/visual stimuli
Normal newborn respiratory rate is __ to ___ breaths per minute
30 to 60 BPM