Nursing Care of At-Risk/High-Risk Newborns

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the nursing care of at-risk and high-risk newborns.

Low-birth-weight (LBW) infant

Infant weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) regardless of gestational age.

Very-low-birth weight (VLBW) infant

Infant weighing less than 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds).

Extremely low-birth weight (ELBW) infant

Infant weighing less than 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds).

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Condition where the fetus's growth is restricted, often synonymous with small-for-gestational age (SGA).

Gestational Age

The age of the fetus or newborn, usually measured in weeks.

Late-preterm infant

Infant born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation, regardless of birth weight.

Neonatal death

Death of an infant within the first 27 days of life.

Perinatal mortality

Total number of fetal and early neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.

Ballard Scoring System

A system used to determine the gestational age of a newborn based on physical and neurological criteria.

Hypoglycemia in newborns

A condition where a newborn has a lower-than-normal blood sugar level, often monitored in high-risk infants.

Sucking and swallowing coordination

Typically occurs between 32 to 34 weeks of gestation, not fully synchronized until 36-37 weeks.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)

A condition where a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs.

Apnea of prematurity

A pause in breathing in preterm infants that lasts more than 20 seconds, often associated with bradycardia or oxygen desaturation.

Kernicterus

A type of brain damage caused by excessive jaundice in infants, specifically high levels of unconjugated bilirubin.

Congenital heart diseases

Defects in the heart structure present at birth which can affect blood flow.