The Newborn

Apgar Scale

Brazelton Scale

• Interaction with the enviroment– Tests baby’s alertness– Attention to sound, light and cuddliness

• Motor Process– Tests baby’s activity level and reflex behavior

• Control of Physical State– Self quieting, irratability

• Response to Stress– Startle reactions and trembling

Physical Characteristics of Newborns

• Size• Slightly over seven

pounds• 20 inches long• Boys are bigger than

girls• Newborns loose weight

but gain it back in 10 days

• Body Proportions• Head is ¼ of the body

size• Chest is rounded

• Almost no neck• Legs drawn up and

short compared to the arms.

Newborn Characteristics Cont.

• Face• Neonatal• Flat nose• Tiny jaw chin• Helps baby with sucking

• Cranium• Fontanels soft spots– Allows the skull to grow

• Skull is soft and may be molded into the shape of an egg during birth.

• Will close after one to two years

Newborn Characteristics Cont.

• Skin• Newborn have thin dry

skin• Blotchy, ruddy you may

see blood vessels• Skin of feet is loose &

wrinkly• Scalp skin is loose• Vernix Caseosa covering

baby

• Down on ears, shoulders, back forehead, and cheeks

• Stork Bites (small blood vessels)

• May look yellow jaundice

Newborn Characteristics Cont.

• Eyes usually dull grey and do not settle until 6 months.

• Babies do not produce tears until 3 months

• Mouth the baby may be born with one or two teeth.

• Puffy cheeks for sucking• Tongue is short and

can’t be extended beyond the teeth

Natural Reflexes

Palmer (grasping)Reflex

Plantar (grasping)Reflex

Babinski Reflex

Moro (startle) Reflex

Walking Reflex

Sucking Reflex

Five Types of Newborn Cries

• Neh – The “neh” sound in the secret language of newborn basics means “I’m hungry”. Apparently as a baby’s sucking reflex kicks in and the tongue is pushed to the roof of the mouth the sound that comes out is a “neh” sound.

• Owh – The “owh” sound is made in the reflex of a yawn which means, yep, you guessed it, “I’m sleepy”.

• Heh – the “heh” sounds (similar to “neh” so be careful that you hear the beginning /h/ sound) means discomfort. This particular of the newborn cries is to let you know that the baby is uncomfortable – cold, itchy, need a new diaper, need a new position in which to lie, etc.

• Eair – The “eair” sound means lower gas. It’s a deeper sound that comes from the abdomen. It is a bit more difficult to distinguish than the rest but is usually accompanied by a newborn pulling his/her knees up or pushing down and out with his/her legs. Baby’s body, not only his/her face, will look uncomfortable.

• Eh – The “eh” sound means that a baby needs to burp. It is similar, again, to “neh” and “heh” but remember that you are listening for those beginning sounds, not the ending sounds. When you hear, “Eh, ehhhhh” your newborn is telling you “Burp me, please”.

The End