High-Risk Newborns

Flashcards covering key concepts related to high-risk newborns, including birth classifications and complications.

Late Preterm Birth

Birth occurring between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation.

Postmaturity Syndrome

A condition occurring in infants born after 42 weeks of gestation, characterized by decreased placental functioning and specific physical features.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

A condition in which a fetus is smaller than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy.

Small for Gestational Age (SGA)

Infant whose weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age.

Large for Gestational Age (LGA)

Infant whose weight is above the 90th percentile for gestational age.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

A condition in newborns caused by the lack of surfactant, leading to difficulty breathing.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)

Chronic lung disease often resulting from mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy in premature infants.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

A heart condition in which the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth, leading to abnormal blood flow.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

A condition in which a newborn inhaled a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs.

Thermal Instability

The failure of a newborn to maintain normal body temperature, particularly in preterm infants.

Preterm Birth

Birth occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation.

Apnea of Prematurity

Temporary cessation of breathing for 20 seconds or longer, or for a shorter period accompanied by bradycardia or cyanosis, common in preterm infants.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

A serious gastrointestinal disease primarily affecting premature infants, characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the bowel.

Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

A common condition in newborns characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels.

Term Birth

Birth occurring between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation.

Early Term Birth

Birth occurring between 37 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days of gestation.

Full Term Birth

Birth occurring between 39 weeks 0 days and 40 weeks 6 days of gestation.

Late Term Birth

Birth occurring between 41 weeks 0 days and 41 weeks 6 days of gestation.

Post-term Birth

Birth occurring after 42 completed weeks of gestation.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

Bleeding into the ventricles of the brain, common in premature infants.

Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)

Brain injury primarily affecting premature infants, characterized by damage to the brain's white matter near the ventricles.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

A potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants, causing abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.

Neonatal Sepsis

A severe systemic infection in the first month of life.

Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose levels in a newborn, often seen in LGA infants, infants of diabetic mothers, or SGA infants.

Neonatal Hypothermia

Abnormally low body temperature in a newborn, often associated with prematurity or illness.

Anemia of Prematurity

A condition common in very premature infants characterized by low red blood cell count.

Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)

A mild respiratory problem in full-term or late-preterm infants caused by retained fluid in the lungs.

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)

A condition where a newborn's pulmonary blood vessels don't open up, leading to high blood pressure in the lungs and reduced oxygen.

Surfactant

A substance produced by the lungs that reduces surface tension, preventing alveolar collapse, critical for respiratory function.

Oligohydramnios

A condition characterized by an abnormally low amount of amniotic fluid, which can contribute to postmaturity.

Macrosomia

A term for a newborn that is significantly larger than average (typically weighing over 4000g or 8 lbs 13 oz), often associated with maternal diabetes.

Shoulder Dystocia

A birth complication where one or both of the baby's shoulders get stuck behind the mother's pubic bone during delivery.

Birth Asphyxia

Impaired blood gas exchange leading to hypoxemia and hypercapnia, potentially causing cellular injury.

Neonatal Polycythemia

An abnormally high red blood cell count in a newborn, which can increase blood viscosity.

Birth Trauma

Physical injuries sustained by an infant during the process of birth.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

A birth defect where there is an opening in the baby's diaphragm, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity.

Gastroschisis

A birth defect where intestines are outside of the baby's body, exiting through a hole next to the belly button.

Omphalocele

A birth defect in which an infant's intestine or other abdominal organs protrude outside of the body from the navel, but are contained within a sac.

Cleft Lip and Palate

Birth defects that occur when the lip or roof of the mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.

Hydrocephalus (Congenital)

An abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, present at birth.

Microcephaly (Congenital)

A condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than expected, usually due to abnormal brain development.

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Genetic disorders in which the body cannot properly turn food into energy, often due to enzyme deficiencies.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A genetic disorder where the body cannot process the amino acid phenylalanine, leading to intellectual disability if untreated.

Congenital Hypothyroidism

A condition present at birth where an infant lacks sufficient thyroid hormone production.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

A group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive opioid drugs while in the mother's womb.

APGAR Score

A rapid assessment of a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, evaluating skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Brain injury in a newborn caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow (hypoxia-ischemia) around the time of birth.

Phototherapy

A treatment using special lights to reduce high bilirubin levels in newborns, converting bilirubin into a water-soluble form that can be excreted.

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)

A method of care for preterm infants involving continuous skin-to-skin contact with the mother (or father), frequent breastfeeding, and early hospital discharge.

Congenital Heart Defect (CHD)

A structural problem with the heart that is present at birth, affecting its function or blood flow.