1. The Newborn

3. Apgar Scale

4. Brazelton Scale Interaction with the enviroment Motor Process
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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Palmer (grasping)Reflex
Natural Reflexes
Palmer (grasping)Reflex

10. Plantar (grasping)Reflex

11. Babinski Reflex

12. Moro (startle) Reflex

13. Walking Reflex

14. Sucking Reflex

15. 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”.

16. The End