premature infant age
-less than 38 weeks
post mature infant age
-more than 42 weeks
what happens when a baby stays in the womb for past 42 weeks?
-the baby would be malnutritioned
what are the possible effects on premature babies?
- often develops mental health
- aren’t reaching milestones
- low birth weight
- early gestation
in which trimester does baby gain the most weight?
-last trimester
full term infant age
-38-42 weeks
what causes small gestational babies?
- smoking is #1 cause
- in twins, this may occur if one baby gets more nutrition than the other
what is gestation?
-time between conception and birth
what is a small gestational weight?
- less than 5 lbs
- can be a full term infant but low weight
what is a large gestational weight?
- greater than 10lbs
- could be classified as either preterm or full term
what is recommended to do right when the baby is conceived?
- to put the baby on the mom as soon as their out of the uterus
- it increases mom to baby bond
- if not, then they’re wrapped or in a heating unit
kangaroo care
- a method of caring for a baby (especially preemies)
- importance of holding naked baby against bare skin of parent for as long as possible each day
why is kangaroo care important for preemies?
-improved outcomes for preemies when they have this contact
abgar
-check-up done right when the baby’s born
what causes a large gestational babies?
- could be due to weight mother gained during pregnancy
- diabetes is the most common cause though
what is vernix?
- “newborn moisturizer”
- creamy, cheesy coating on skin
- keeps skin supple while fetus was in amniotic fluid
what causes stillbirths?
can result from:
- traumatic labor and delivery
- interruptions in blood supply and nutrients
- infections
fontanels
- openings in skull formed by suture lines
- sutures are open and flexible and allow for passage through birth canal
- generally close by 18 months
moulding
- shape of head after birth is long and narrow
- due to overlapping of fetal skull bones
- disappears 1-3 days after birth
amniotic cord
- aka umbilical cord
- carries O2 blood nutrients from placenta to fetus through abdomen
- carries non O2 blood and waste products from fetus to placenta
lanugo
- has a lot of hair on skin
- considered protective
- preemies commonly have this
cephalohematoma
- asymmetrical mass on one side of suture line
- soft tissue trauma (excessive bleeding) caused during delivery
why does peeling skin on infants occur?
-they’re used to the mother’s uterus environment so leaving it dries it out
why does the infant cough and sneeze at birth?
- nature is helping the baby clear the nasal passage
- infants are obligatory nose breathers so sneezing helps clean it out
