Republic of the Philippines

Western Mindanao State University

College of Nursing

CASE ANALYSIS #2
Mother Sonyejin delivered a baby boy parkseojun at BINJIN Hospital. Nurse
Parkminyang assigned at nursery received the Babyboy and the following were documented on
the nurse’s progress notes:

DATE/TIME FOCUS PROGRESS NOTES

8 am Admission at nursery D- Admitted Babyboy
parkseojun with AS 8
(APGAR SCORE 8) ;loud
cry with good reflexes noted
& pinkish in color
-noted a lot of vernix and a
blue mark is noticed over the
lower back.

8:10 am A-Vital signs taken and

recorded:
T- 36.8 °C ; HR-160 bpm;
RR- 58 breaths/min;
Head circumference- 35 cm
Chest circumference 31 cm
Abdominal circumference-
24.7cm
8:15 am Newborn bath given
8:30 am Physical assessment done by
Dr.Hyunbin
10:00 am R- noted no signs of
abnormalities
Roomed-in with his mother at
ward 1.-----------
ParkminyangRN
Guided Questions:

1. What is the right time for the newborn to bath and why?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the right time to bathe
newborns is after at least 6 hours but most recommended at after 24 hours. Delaying the
bathing of newborns is important for the babies’ body temperature and blood sugar,
bonding and breastfeeding, and skin. Newborns are less capable of controlling their body
heat than adults and may be more likely to develop hypothermia and hypoglycemia.
Another reason is for the initiation of bonding, skin-to-skin care, and increase in
breastfeeding success. Lastly, it allows the vernix, a cheesy-like white substance that
coats newborns’ skin before birth to act as a moisturizer and anti-bacterial, which then
prevent the babies’ skin to dry out.

2. Is the presence of vernix normal?

Yes. The presence of vernix on newborns is normal.

3. What is the significance of vernix to the newborn?

The vernix is a cheese-like white substance that coats babies’ skin and serves as a
barrier from the surrounding amniotic fluid when the baby is still inside the mother’s
womb. It has anti-microbial properties which protect newborns from infections after
birth, because the coating contains antioxidants, as well as anti-infection and anti-
inflammatory properties. The vernix also serves as a lubrication which reduces friction as
babies pass through the birth canal during delivery. After birth, newborns take time to
regulate their own body temperature, and the vernix does the job by stabilizing babies’
body temperature to its surroundings. Moreover, the vernix also moisturizes babies’ skin
and protecting it from becoming too dry and cracked.

4. Do we need to remove the vernix or leave as it is?

It is highly recommended by health professionals to leave the vernix as it makes
babies’ skin is more moisturized, the antimicrobial materials help protect from harmful
organisms, and it results in a lower skin surface pH which ensures that babies’ skin gets
colonized with good bacteria and not the bad ones. Furthermore, it helps with heat
insulation, providing newborns with a bit of additional warmth at a time when their little
bodies haven’t yet mastered temperature regulation.

5. What is the normal chest circumference for male and female newborn?
The normal chest circumference of both male and female newborns ranges from
30.5 cm to 33 cm or 12 to 13 inches.

6. With the given vital signs, can you give newborn bath? Why?
Based from the given vital signs, a newborn bath can be given to baby Park
Seojun. The normal body temperature for a newborn to receive a bath is 36.8°C which is
the same as the temperature of baby Park Seojun.

7. Kindly support your answers with rationale from the given questions above.