Newborn Assessment and Management Vocabulary

Flashcards of key vocabulary related to newborn assessment and management.

Apgar Score

Numerical expression of well-being of the newborn, assessed at 1 and 5 minutes.

LGA

Large for gestational age, >90%

AGA

Average for gestational age, >10% to <90%

SGA

Small for gestational age, <10%

Acrocyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the extremities due to sluggish peripheral circulation.

Evaporation

Heat loss that occurs when a liquid is converted to a vapor.

Radiation

Loss of heat from the body surface to a cooler solid surface not in direct contact but in relative proximity

Conduction

Loss of heat from body surface to cooler surfaces in direct contact

Convection

Flow of heat from the body surface to cooler ambient air

Jaundice

Yellow staining of the skin, progressing from head to toe as bilirubin levels rise.

Hyperbilirubinemia

High levels of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood stream.

Kernicterus

A life threatening condition resulting from elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood stream.

Vernix Caseosa

Cream cheese looking substance that protects the fetal skin from amniotic fluid.

Lanugo

Fine hair prevalent in preterm babies on the back, shoulders and face.

Mongolian Spots

Bluish-black areas of pigmentation appear commonly on the back, buttocks or extremities of dark-skinned infants.

Milia

Distended sebaceous glands on nose and cheeks appearing as raised white bumps on the face, nose and chin.

Epstein's pearls

Whitish hardened nodules on the gums or the roof of the mouth of the infant.

Natal teeth

Rare occurrence of a tooth or teeth present at birth.

Caput succedaneum

(A collection of serous fluid between the periosteum and the scalp) Caused by pressure of cervix on head. Often crosses suture lines. Resolves in 12 hours or up to 3 days

Cephalohematoma

(a collection of blood between the periosteum and the skull) Bruising that never crosses suture lines, unless there is a skull fracture. Collection of blood between the skull and the periosteum

Ophthalmia neonatorum

Severe infection of the eye contracted by the infant when it passes through the birth canal of a woman infected with gonorrhea.

Pseudomenstruation

Blood tinged mucus vaginal discharge in female newborns.

Habituation

The ability to respond to and then inhibit responding to discrete stimulus while asleep. Protective means to allow the newborn to filter stimuli.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Violent shaking of a small infant or child that causes whiplash-type injury resulting in brainstem and retinal hemorrhages.