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Health Assessment of the Newborn
The newborn requires thorough skilled observation to ensure a satisfactory adjustment to extra uterine life.
Health assessment of newborn after delivery can be divided into:
1. Initial Assessment
2. Transitional Assessment
3. Assessment of gestational age
4. Behavioural asessment
5. Systemic physical examination
Initial Assessment:
Initial assessment is done by using the APGAR scoring system.
APGAR score: It is method use to assess the newborn’s immediate adjustment to extra uterine life.
• The score based on five signs
1. Appearance (colour)
2. Pulse (Heart rate)
3. Grimace (Reflex irritability )
4. Activity (Muscle tone)
5. Respiratory rate
• Each item is given a score 0, 1, or 2
• 0-3 severe distress
• 4-6 moderate difficulty
• 7-10 no difficulty adjusting to life
• Evaluations of all five categories are made on 1-5 min after birth.
APGAR score:
Sign 0 1 2
Appearance (colour) Blue or pale Body pink, Extrimities Blue Completely Pink
Pulse (Heart rate) Absent Slow (<100 /> 100/m
Grimace (Reflex irritability ) No response Grimace Cough Or Sneeze
Activity(Muscle tone Limp Some flexion Active movement
Respiratory rate Absent Slow, Irregular Good, Crying
Other initial assessment are-
• Stabilization
• Measuring weight.
Transitional Assessment during the period of reactivity
First period of reactivity (6- 8 hours after birth):
During the first 30 minutes the newborn is very alert, cries vigorously, may suck a first greedily, and appears very interested in the environment. Physiologically the respiratory rate can be as high as 80 breaths/ min, crackles may be heard, heart rate may reach 180 beats/min, bowel sound are active, mucus secretions are increased and temperature may decrease slightly.
Second period of reactivity:
Began when the newborn awake from the deep sleep, it lasts about 2-5 hours. The newborn is alert and responsive, heart and respiratory rate are increased, gastric and respiratory secretions are increased, and passage of meconium commonly occurs.
Following this stage is a period of stabilization of physiologic systems & vacillating patern of sleep & activity.