Transcript The Newborn - mcparenthood

6.2
The Baby Arrives
 At birth, a newborn goes through many physical
changes that are necessary for survival.
 During the pregnancy, the baby’s lungs are collapsed.
Oxygen is delivered through the mother’s blood, and
the lungs are not used.
 During delivery, the lungs fill with amniotic fluid that
was in the baby’s trachea.


This is the tube that delivers air from the mouth to the lungs.
Most of the fluid is squeezed out during the trip during the
birth canal.
 What remains is suctioned out immediately after birth.
 Newborns usually breathe naturally after birth, if not
The Baby Arrives
 Once the lungs have begun to take in oxygen, the
baby’s circulatory system changes.
 Blood now circulates to and from the lungs, rather than
bypassing them.
 The heart changes too.
 The heart must pump harder to get more blood to the
lungs.
 Two small openings in the heart begin to close.
 A new type of hemoglobin develops

Hemoglobin is a part of the red blood cell that delivers
oxygen to the body.
The Baby Arrives
 The umbilical cord once
provided the baby with
nourishment and oxygen.
 The cord is no longer needed
 Within a few minutes of birth,
the cord stops pulsing with the
mother’s heartbeat and begins
to shrink.
 The cord is clamped and cut off,
leaving a small stump at the
baby’s navel.

The stump will fall off in the first
The Newborn’s
Appearance
 The newborns head is wobbly and looks too large for
the body.
 The baby’s skull may appear pointed or lopsided due
to the birthing process.
 A baby’s skull bones are not fully fused together
 The skill has soft spots, or fontanels.
 Fontanel: is an open space found on the baby’s head
where the bones are not yet joined.
 Just above the forehead and towards the back

As the baby develops the bones will fuse together.
The Newborn’s
Appearance
 Babies’ circulatory system takes time to adjust
 Fingers and toes may be cooler than the rest of the
body for the first 24 hours.
 Keeping babies wrapped in blankets make them feel
more secure.
 A knitted cap keeps their head warm
 Some babies, especially premies have lanugo.
 Lanugo: is fine, downy hair growing on the newborns
forehead, backs, and shoulders
 Disappears quickly.
The Newborn’s Appearance
 Some babies, especially premies have lanugo.
 Lanugo: is fine, downy hair growing on the newborns
forehead, backs, and shoulders
 Disappears quickly.
 While in the uterus, the baby is floating in amniotic
fluid and is covered in vernix.
 Vernix: is a thick, white, pasty substance made up of
the fetus’ old skin cells and the secretions of skin
glands.


Acts as protection against exposure to the amniotic fluid.
Any remaining vernix is washed off during the baby’s first
bath.
The Newborn’s
Appearance
 Many babies have tiny, white bumps called milia, or baby
acne on their nose and cheeks.
 They are plugged oil ducts caused by stimulation from the
mothers hormones, which remain in the baby’s system for a
short time after delivery.
 Should disappear in a week or so after birth.
 The face of the newborn may be swollen or puffy
 Typically, newborns have fat cheeks; short, flat noses; and
receding chins.
 The small feature make it easier for the baby to nurse
 At birth, babies’ eyes are nearly adult sized.
Examining the Newborn
 When babies are born, their condition is evaluated
using the Apgar Scale.
 Apgar Scale: is a system of rating the physical
condition of a newborn baby.

5 factors are checked again 5 minutes after birth
 Heart Rate
 Breathing
 Muscle Tone
 Response to Stimulation
 Skin Color
 The baby is also given other tests soon after birth.
Apgar Scale
First Exam
 The Apgar scale rates each of the five areas from 0-
2.
 A normal score is in the 6-10 range with 10 being a
perfect score.
 Nurses examine the baby for any conditions that
may require special care.
 They weight, measure, and dry the baby.
 They apply amitotic to the baby’s eyes to prevent
infection
 The baby often receives an injection of vitamin K to
After Birth
 Shortly after birth, certain
records are created.
 The baby’s foot is
printed in ink for public
record.
 Plastic bands are
fastened to the mothers
wrist, to the baby’s wrist
or ankle, and to the wrist
of someone of the
mothers choosing.

The bands having
matching numbers and
are checked each time
the baby leaves the
mothers room.
Later Tests
 Most newborns receive at least one and often two
hearing screenings.
 Blood is taken from the umbilical cord immediately
after birth to check the baby’s blood type and screen
for certain diseases.
 While the baby is still in the hospital, blood will be
taken from the heel to test for certain disease and
disorders.
 If the baby is born at home, the baby should still
receive the same tests.
 Parents should plan ahead and discuss with their