Neonatal Examination Overview

Marks left on the baby's head from the use of forceps during birth.

Soft spots on a baby's head where the skull bones haven't fused together yet.

The largest fontanelle, located on the top front of the baby's head.

Small fontanelle located on the back of the baby's head.

Slight changes in the shape of the baby's head due to pressure during birth.

Edema of the scalp that forms on the presenting part of the head during birth.

Collection of blood beneath the skull.

Softening of the cranial bones, possibly from pressure on the fetal skull.

Condition where the head is smaller than expected for age and sex.

Condition where the head is larger than expected for age and sex.

Condition where the neck is twisted, often due to muscle injury.

Checking if both sides of the chest are equal in shape.

Funnel chest.

Pigeon chest.

Composed of 2 veins and 1 artery.

First stool of a newborn, typically passes within 48 hours.

The ability to balance heat production and loss to maintain a stable body temperature.

Newborns lose heat much faster than adults, primarily through evaporation.

The production of heat within tissues to boost body temperature.

A specialized tissue that generates heat through metabolic processes, crucial for newborns.

A condition where body temperature drops below a healthy range, posing significant risk for newborns.

The greatest source of heat loss for newborns, occurring when liquid changes to vapor.

Newborns typically nose-breathe, have irregular rates (40-60 breaths/minute), and abdominal/diaphragmatic breathing. Breathing is quiet and shallow, easily affected by stimuli, with occasional short periods of apnea.

Short periods of no breathing (less than 15 seconds) are normal in newborns.

A condition where a newborn's body temperature drops below 35.5°C, requiring immediate intervention.

Methods for measuring infant temperature include axillary, temporal, and rectal (rectal can cause perforation).

A series of procedures to maintain a newborn's body temperature, including prewarming equipment, immediate drying, and skin-to-skin contact.

A condition characterized by rapid breathing in newborns, often resolving in a few days.

Environmental factors such as cooling, immediate drying, and mother-child contact influence the newborns ability to change from inside-the-mother to outside-the-mother respiration.

Neonate refers to the first 28 days of life, while infant describes the period after 28 days.

A scoring system used to assess a newborn's health immediately after birth based on physical characteristics.

Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration are the five categories assessed in apgar scoring for newborns.

A newborn weighing less than 2500 grams.

A newborn weighing less than 1500 grams.

A newborn weighing less than 1000 grams.

A newborn born after 37 weeks of gestation.

A newborn born before 37 weeks of gestation.

Evaluates a newborn's physical and neuromuscular maturity within the first two hours of life.

Establishment of air movement into the lungs following birth.

Ensuring unobstructed passage for air into the lungs and promoting drainage of fluids.

Techniques used to initiate independent respiration in a baby that does not immediately breathe on their own.

Direct physical contact between the newborn and the mother's skin, promoting warmth and bonding.

A decrease in the oxygen levels in the blood.

A collection of physical and posture signs which assess the development of the neuromuscular system of the newborn.

Parameters include posture, square window, arm recoil and popliteal angle, scarf sign, heel to ear, which evaluates the physical and neuromuscular maturity.

Average weight of a newborn is 3.4 kg (female) and 3.5 kg (male), but variations exist. Macrosomia (greater than 4.7 kg) and preterm (less than 2.5 kg) are considered deviations from the norm.

A newborn's pulse rate is typically 120-140 bpm, varying with activity (160 bpm when crying, 100 bpm when sleeping). Normal murmurs might be heard and disappear by 6 months. Tachycardia (> 160 bpm) and Bradycardia (< 100 bpm) are abnormal.

Blood pressure at birth usually ranges around 80/46 mmHg, increasing around 100/50mmHg by the 10th day, usually only measured if there is concern.

A 5-10% weight loss within the first 7-10 days of birth is common and can be seen in both breastfed and formula-fed infants. Breastfed babies tend to recover this weight faster.

Typical birth length for infants is 53 cm in females and 54 cm in males. The lower limit of normal is 46 cm.

Measurements are taken from the top of the head to the bottom of the heel.

A head size that's significantly smaller or larger than the norm for a newborn's gestational age.

A method used to assess head circumference for abnormalities, mainly to identify if head circumference is more than 37cm or less than 33cm.

A condition where the head circumference is below the 10th percentile for gestational age.

A condition where the head circumference is above the 90th percentile for gestational age.

Measure of the chest size, typically measured at the level of the nipples, used as part of the newborn assessment, often compared to the head circumference.

Measurement of the abdomen, usually above the umbilicus, used to assess possible abdominal distention in newborns.

The changes in blood flow from the fetal to the newborn circulatory system, triggered by first breath following birth.

Opening between the right and left atria in the fetal heart, closing post-birth.

The scar left after the foramen ovale closes.

Blood vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava in the fetus, closing shortly after birth.

Connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta; closes within 15 hours after birth, important for transition of circulation.

Bluish discoloration in the hands and feet, typically normal in the first 24 hours after birth due to slowing circulation.

Bluish discoloration around the face and upper body, indicating potential heart or lung problems.

First stool of a newborn, thick, black, odorless, and composed of cells and substances.

Stool that follows meconium, greenish-brown to yellowish-brown, and can last for several days.

Yellow and semi-formed, with a golden-yellow pasty consistency and sour odor.

Drier and more formed than breastfed stool.

Involuntary turning of the head towards a stimulus, assisting in feeding.

Reflex where the newborn sucks when the roof of their mouth is stimulated.

Also known as fencing reflex, occurs when stroking the baby's spine.

Involuntary grasping of objects placed in the palm of the hand.

Tongue-thrust reflex: Tongue pushes out any substance placed on the anterior part of the tongue.

Yellowing of the skin and eyes in newborns, usually resolving within a few days, often due to immature liver function.

Assess skin elasticity by gently pinching a fold of skin and observing how quickly it returns to normal.

Soft-tissue swelling on the scalp of newborns, usually caused by pressure during delivery.

Collection of blood under the skull, often from pressure during delivery, and typically resolves with reabsorption.

Softening of the skull bones sometimes seen in newborns, often due to pressure during delivery.

Head size smaller than expected for age and sex. May indicate developmental issues.

Startle reflex in newborns elicited by sudden noise or movement.