Normal Newborn: Processes of Adaptation

2. Which organs are nonfunctional during fetal life? a. Eyes and ears b. Lungs and liver c. Kidneys and adrenals d. Gastrointestinal system - ANS: B Conduction occurs when the infant comes in contact with cold objects. Radiation is the transfer of heat to a cooler object that is not in direct contact with the infant. Convection occurs when heat is transferred to the air surrounding the infant. Evaporation can occur during birth or bathing as a result of wet linens or clothes, or insensible heat loss. A meconium stool can be differentiated from a transitional stool in the newborn because the meconium stool is: a. seen at 3 days of age. b. the residue of a milk curd. c. passed in the first 24 hours of life. d. lighter in color and looser in consistency. - ANS: C Meconium should be passed in the first 24 hours of life. Meconium stool is the first stool of the newborn. Meconium stool is made up of matter in the intestines during intrauterine life. Meconium is dark in color and sticky. A multiparous patient arrives to the labor unit and urgently states, "The baby is coming RIGHT NOW!" The nurse assists the patient into a comfortable position and delivers the infant. To prevent infant heat loss from conduction, what is the priority nursing action? a. Dry the baby off. b. Turn up the temperature in the patient's room. c. Pour warmed water over the baby immediately after birth. d. Place the baby on the patient's abdomen after the cord is cut. - ANS: D Movement of heat away from the body occurs when newborns have direct contact with objects that are cooler than their skin. Placing infants on cold surfaces or touching them with cool objects causes this type of heat loss. The reverse is also true; contact with warm objects increases body heat by conduction. Warming objects that will touch the infant or placing the unclothed infant against the mother's skin (skin to skin) helps prevent conductive heat loss. Drying the baby off helps prevent heat loss through evaporation. Adjusting the temperature in the patient's room helps with heat loss through convection. Pouring warm water over a baby occurs with the first bath, which is conducted after the baby's temperature has stabilized. Pouring warm water over the baby prior to that time will increase heat loss through evaporation.