Postpartum Mother / Baby Assessment Questions & Answers

Postpartum Mother / Baby Assessment Questions & Answers LVN to RN Grayson County College newborn, normal and abnormal findings and nursing interventions postpartum nursing interventions psychosocial, bonding & attachment, mood disorders operative obstetrics domestic violence How to measure Newborn Head Circumferences - ANS-The infant's head is supported slightly away from table surface. Measure around the largest portion of the infants head (the glabella in front and the opisthrocranion on the back of head). Newborn Head Circumferences measurements - ANS-For a term infant (37 to 42 weeks), this should be 1-2 inches or 2 - 3 cm larger than chest circumference. 33 - 37 cm is average Why do Newborn Head Circumferences measurements change in first few days - ANS-This initial measurement soon after birth will often be about 1 to 0.5 cms less than follow up measurement due to overlapping of sutures at birth from molding to pass through the birth canal Benign familial megalencephaly - ANS-This is a larger than average head circumference and is a normal variant. The condition can be verified by checking the head circumference of both parents. Megalencephaly is usually handed down by the father. How to measure Newborn Chest Circumference - ANS-With the infant lying on his back, measure the circumference of the chest at the level of the nipples during normal breathing. 12-13 inches, measure around chest just above nipples How to measure Newborn length - ANS-With the baby lying supine and the head touching a fixed object extend the baby's body and legs and hold them flat; Slide base to feet and record the resulting length from head to heel. Newborn length - ANS-19-21 inches or 47 to 55 cm. Newborn Birth Weight - ANS-The undiapered infant is placed on a clinical scale and weighed to the nearest tenth of a kilogram. 6-9 pounds, What changes are expected in Newborn Birth Weight - ANS-A loss of 10% of weight in first week, with a regain in 10-14 days Newborn Temperature - ANS-97.9*-100.4* rectal - anything below or above is considered abnormal. Intervention for hypothermia - ANS-If temp is slightly low (mild hypothermia) (body temperature 36.0-36.4°c/96.8-97.5°f) • Put on hat and swaddle • Recheck temp If temp is moderately low (moderate hypothermia) (body temperature 32-35.9°c/89.6-96.6°f) • Under a radiant heater; • In an incubator, at 35-36°c (95-96.8°f)