MCN 273 NEWBORN 2: YOUR A+ GUIDE THROUGH
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
what are you looking at for a newborn neck?
neck is short and creased with skin folds, palpate for masses, assess ROM, check clavicles for
evidence of fractures
what does head lag in a newborn mean?
this is when their neck muscles are not strong enough and if neck is not supported the head will
fall backwards always have to support their head
how do you assess ROM in a newborn?
can you turn its head to both sides
why would clavicles be fractured in a baby?
when they come out of womb the shoulder can break bc squeezed so tightly
what would indicate that a baby may have a fractured clavicle?
if the baby is not moving their arm - make sure to look for symmetry when assessing arm
movements
do baby bones heal fast?
yes
if a baby is not moving its arms symmetrically what are you assessing?
check if clavicles are broken. check if brachial nerve plexus is ok
what are normal chest findings for a baby?
thorax is cylindrical and symmetric at birth, ribs are flexible
what is a normal chest size for a baby?
30-33 cm or 12-13 inches
are engorged breasts common in male and female babies? what does this mean? why or why
not does it happen?
yes this means that the breast tissue looks swollen; happens bc placenta is making high levels of
female hormones and there are high progesterone and estrogen levels for baby
what are normal findings with a newborn abdomen?
, cylindrical and protrudes slightly with no cyanosis and no distention
what are you auscultating on the abdomen?
bowel sounds in 4 quadrants
what are you palpating with the abdomen?
palpation systematic and make sure that there is a softness and tenderness look for any masses
or any tenderness
what are normal findings with an umbilical cord?
can see the blood vessels and when the cord is cut it initially looks white and gelatinous there
should be two small arteries and then a larger vessel which is a vein
what is the gelatinous substance covering umbilical cord for?
to protect the spiraling blood vessels - two smaller arteries and a larger vein
what is on the outside of the umbilical cord?
a tough later of skin
where are the two places you put a clamp with the umbilical cord?
you put it to clamp off the baby's end and then the mom's end and then cut in the middle
does the bit of cord left on baby's bellybutton dry up? how long does this take?
yes it will be dry, shriveled, and blackened by 2-3 days
how long does it take for dried umbilical cord to fall off?
7-10 days
is it normal if there is cord bleeding or foul smelling drainage?
no
do you want to keep the cord stump uncovered?
yes it needs to dry up
is an umbilical cord hernia common with babies? what does this mean?
yes; this means that there is a loop of the intestine protruding through an opening in the
abdominal wall or the inguinal wall (this can sometimes have stuff to do with the muscle
pattern and means that there is a weakness in the muscles)
do many umbilical cord hernias resolve spontaneously?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
what are you looking at for a newborn neck?
neck is short and creased with skin folds, palpate for masses, assess ROM, check clavicles for
evidence of fractures
what does head lag in a newborn mean?
this is when their neck muscles are not strong enough and if neck is not supported the head will
fall backwards always have to support their head
how do you assess ROM in a newborn?
can you turn its head to both sides
why would clavicles be fractured in a baby?
when they come out of womb the shoulder can break bc squeezed so tightly
what would indicate that a baby may have a fractured clavicle?
if the baby is not moving their arm - make sure to look for symmetry when assessing arm
movements
do baby bones heal fast?
yes
if a baby is not moving its arms symmetrically what are you assessing?
check if clavicles are broken. check if brachial nerve plexus is ok
what are normal chest findings for a baby?
thorax is cylindrical and symmetric at birth, ribs are flexible
what is a normal chest size for a baby?
30-33 cm or 12-13 inches
are engorged breasts common in male and female babies? what does this mean? why or why
not does it happen?
yes this means that the breast tissue looks swollen; happens bc placenta is making high levels of
female hormones and there are high progesterone and estrogen levels for baby
what are normal findings with a newborn abdomen?
, cylindrical and protrudes slightly with no cyanosis and no distention
what are you auscultating on the abdomen?
bowel sounds in 4 quadrants
what are you palpating with the abdomen?
palpation systematic and make sure that there is a softness and tenderness look for any masses
or any tenderness
what are normal findings with an umbilical cord?
can see the blood vessels and when the cord is cut it initially looks white and gelatinous there
should be two small arteries and then a larger vessel which is a vein
what is the gelatinous substance covering umbilical cord for?
to protect the spiraling blood vessels - two smaller arteries and a larger vein
what is on the outside of the umbilical cord?
a tough later of skin
where are the two places you put a clamp with the umbilical cord?
you put it to clamp off the baby's end and then the mom's end and then cut in the middle
does the bit of cord left on baby's bellybutton dry up? how long does this take?
yes it will be dry, shriveled, and blackened by 2-3 days
how long does it take for dried umbilical cord to fall off?
7-10 days
is it normal if there is cord bleeding or foul smelling drainage?
no
do you want to keep the cord stump uncovered?
yes it needs to dry up
is an umbilical cord hernia common with babies? what does this mean?
yes; this means that there is a loop of the intestine protruding through an opening in the
abdominal wall or the inguinal wall (this can sometimes have stuff to do with the muscle
pattern and means that there is a weakness in the muscles)
do many umbilical cord hernias resolve spontaneously?
