Newborn Transitioning and Nursing Management

These flashcards cover newborn transitions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, and renal adaptations, as well as nursing assessments, gestational age classifications, and immediate newborn care interventions.

Catecholamines

Chemicals released due to physical forces during labor that are critical for the changes involved in the transition to extrauterine life.

Surfactant

A surface tension reducing lipoprotein that prevents alveolar collapse in the newborn's lungs.

Normal Newborn Respirations

$30$ to $60$ breaths per minute; characterized as irregular, shallow, unlabored, with symmetrical chest movements and short periods of apnea ($<15$ seconds).

Nonshivering thermogenesis

The primary mechanism of heat production in the newborn, as they lack the ability to shiver.

Neural Thermal Environment (NTE)

An environment that maintains a balance between heat loss and heat production for the newborn.

Bilirubin conjugation

A hepatic system function; impaired excretion, decreased conjugation, or overproduction of bilirubin can lead to jaundice.

Meconium

The first stool of the newborn, which is thick, tarry, and dark green.

Physiologic capacity of the newborn stomach

Initially the size of a marble ($15\text{ mL}$), it is considerably less than the anatomic capacity, later reaching approximately $30\text{ cm}^3$.

Newborn Renal Voiding

Six to eight voids per day are considered normal, though the newborn has a limited ability to concentrate urine until about $3$ months of age.

Natural immunity

Immune system adaptation based on physical barriers such as the skin.

Acquired immunity

The development of circulating immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and activated lymphocytes; absent until the first invasion by a foreign organism or toxin.

Cephalocaudal pattern

The direction of neurologic development from head to toe.

First period of reactivity

A behavioral pattern from birth to $30$ minutes up to $2$ hours where the newborn is alert, moving, and may appear hungry.

Apgar scoring

An assessment tool measuring Appearance (color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiratory (respiratory effort).

Preterm

A newborn born prior to $37$ weeks' gestation.

Postterm

A newborn born after week $42$ of gestation, which may show signs of placental aging.

Vernix caseosa

A thick, cheesy, waxy substance protecting the newborn's skin; more present in preterm infants and less in term or postmature infants.

Mongolian spots

A common skin variation appearing as blue or dark spots, typically documented above the buttocks.

Caput succedaneum

A variation in head shape caused by an accumulation of fluid due to pressure on the fetal head during birth.

Cephalohematoma

A variation in head shape involving an accumulation of blood under the scalp that does not cross suture lines.

Vitamin K

A prescribed medication administered to newborns to provide clotting factors.

Eye prophylaxis

The administration of erythromycin to a newborn's eyes to prevent infection.

Hypoglycemia

A plasma glucose concentration less than $45\text{ mg/dL}$ in the first $72$ hours of life.

Transient tachypnea of the newborn

A common concern where the newborn may require oxygen and warmth while waiting for the pulmonary capillaries and lymphatics to remove remaining lung fluid.

Cord care

Nursing intervention involving leaving the umbilical cord alone, keeping it open to air, and ensuring it is not submerged in water until it falls off (approximately $10$ days).