Reproduction study guide level 3
Reproduction (17 Questions)
▪ NEWBORNS
• Thermoregulation:
▪ Balance b/n heat loss & heat production
▪ Heat production: primarily though non-shivering thermogenesis
▪ Heat loss: through 4 mechanisms leading to cold stress
▪ The newborn attempts to conserve heat and increase heat production:
• increasing the metabolic rate
• increasing muscular activity through movement
• increasing peripheral vasoconstriction
• assumes fetal position to hold in heat and minimize exposed
body surface area
▪ Skin-to-skin contact & warm blanket immediately following birth to prevent
cold stress
• Brown Fat:
▪ Primary method of heat production: Non-shivering thermogenesis
• Process by which brown fat is oxidized in response to cold exposure
▪ Factors that predispose newborns to heat loss:
• Large body surface area and thin skin
• Lack of subQ fat (rely on brown fat)
o Inability to cover themselves, communicate, changes positions
o Do not sweat or shiver
• Limited stores of metabolic substrates (glucose, glycogen, fat)
• Assessment of a newborn:
,Reproduction study guide level 3
•
• Reflexes:
▪ Lack of reflexes is indicative of neurological or developmental delay
▪ Sucking: sucking motion
• gently stimulated lips by touching them or by placing finger in mouth
• Open the mouth and begin a sucking motion
▪ Moro: embrace reflex; occurs when neonate is startled
• Place newborn on back support upper body weight by the arms
• Release arms suddenly
• The newborn will throw arms outward and flex the knees; the arms
will return to the chest; fingers will spread to form a C
• Initially appears startled and then relaxes to normal resting position
▪ Stepping:
• Hold upright, inclined forward w/ soles of feet touching a flat surface
• Baby should make a stepping motion or walking
• Alternating flexion and extension with the soles of the feet
▪ Tonic Neck: stance of a fencer/fencing reflex
• Newborn lie on the back & Turn baby’s head to one side
, Reproduction study guide level 3
• The arm toward face should extend straight away from body, hand open
• Other arm will be flexed and fist clenched tightly
▪ Rooting: similar to sucking
• Stroke newborn’s cheek
• Newborn should turn toward side that was stroked and begin
sucking movements.
▪ Babinski reflex:
• Present at birth and disappear 1 year of age
• Stroke lateral sole of foot from heel toward ball of the foot
• Toes should FAN OUT Positive Babinski
▪ Grasp reflex:
• Plantar: place finger between toes and toes will squeeze around it
• Palmer: place finger in newborn’s open hand; will tighten around it
▪ Gag, cough, sneeze, blinking: all protective reflexes present at birth
▪
• S/S of respiratory distress
• Cold Stress: excessive heat loss; newborn uses compensatory mechanisms
– Decreased temperature
– Decreased blood sugar
– Lethargy
– Weakness
Reproduction (17 Questions)
▪ NEWBORNS
• Thermoregulation:
▪ Balance b/n heat loss & heat production
▪ Heat production: primarily though non-shivering thermogenesis
▪ Heat loss: through 4 mechanisms leading to cold stress
▪ The newborn attempts to conserve heat and increase heat production:
• increasing the metabolic rate
• increasing muscular activity through movement
• increasing peripheral vasoconstriction
• assumes fetal position to hold in heat and minimize exposed
body surface area
▪ Skin-to-skin contact & warm blanket immediately following birth to prevent
cold stress
• Brown Fat:
▪ Primary method of heat production: Non-shivering thermogenesis
• Process by which brown fat is oxidized in response to cold exposure
▪ Factors that predispose newborns to heat loss:
• Large body surface area and thin skin
• Lack of subQ fat (rely on brown fat)
o Inability to cover themselves, communicate, changes positions
o Do not sweat or shiver
• Limited stores of metabolic substrates (glucose, glycogen, fat)
• Assessment of a newborn:
,Reproduction study guide level 3
•
• Reflexes:
▪ Lack of reflexes is indicative of neurological or developmental delay
▪ Sucking: sucking motion
• gently stimulated lips by touching them or by placing finger in mouth
• Open the mouth and begin a sucking motion
▪ Moro: embrace reflex; occurs when neonate is startled
• Place newborn on back support upper body weight by the arms
• Release arms suddenly
• The newborn will throw arms outward and flex the knees; the arms
will return to the chest; fingers will spread to form a C
• Initially appears startled and then relaxes to normal resting position
▪ Stepping:
• Hold upright, inclined forward w/ soles of feet touching a flat surface
• Baby should make a stepping motion or walking
• Alternating flexion and extension with the soles of the feet
▪ Tonic Neck: stance of a fencer/fencing reflex
• Newborn lie on the back & Turn baby’s head to one side
, Reproduction study guide level 3
• The arm toward face should extend straight away from body, hand open
• Other arm will be flexed and fist clenched tightly
▪ Rooting: similar to sucking
• Stroke newborn’s cheek
• Newborn should turn toward side that was stroked and begin
sucking movements.
▪ Babinski reflex:
• Present at birth and disappear 1 year of age
• Stroke lateral sole of foot from heel toward ball of the foot
• Toes should FAN OUT Positive Babinski
▪ Grasp reflex:
• Plantar: place finger between toes and toes will squeeze around it
• Palmer: place finger in newborn’s open hand; will tighten around it
▪ Gag, cough, sneeze, blinking: all protective reflexes present at birth
▪
• S/S of respiratory distress
• Cold Stress: excessive heat loss; newborn uses compensatory mechanisms
– Decreased temperature
– Decreased blood sugar
– Lethargy
– Weakness
