University of the Philippines Manila

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Main Campus
Palo, Leyte

Care of Infants and Children

Learning Log
Unit III: Care of a Child with Physical and Developmental Disorders

Week 4

Direction: Complete concisely and honestly each statement corresponds to this week lesson
topic.

I used to think that this course will help me on how to give care in children, infants and other
stages of being a child, specially to a child with physical and developmental disorder.

Now I know that tracheoesophageal atresia must be ruled out in any infant born to a woman with
hydramnios (excessive amniotic fluid). hydramnios occurs because normally a fetus swallows
amniotic fluid during intrauterine life. Many infants with tracheoesophageal fistula are born
preterm because of the accompanying hydramnios, compounding their original problem with
immaturity.

When a newborn is suspected of having tracheoesophageal fistula, the most desirable position is
supine with the head elevated on an inclined plane of at least 30 degrees. It is imperative that any
source of aspiration be removed at once; oral feedings are withheld. Feedings of fluids should
not be given to infants suspected of having tracheoesophageal fistulas. The oral pharynx should
be kept clear of secretion by oral suctioning. This is to avoid the cyanosis that is usually the
result of laryngospasm caused by overflow of saliva into the larynx. In inserting gastrostomy
tube to an infant, the tube should leave unclamped and elevated. The gastrostomy tube should
elevate to directly go down the nutrition/food on stomach, and it also should unclamp to directly
leak the excreted dirt of an infant.

Position infants carefully in prone position with head turned to the side to prevent pressure on the
exposed meninges. Increasing head size from poor absorption of CSF (hydrocephalus) is a
common complication of neutral tube disorders. Children may develop hydrocephalus after
surgery as well, probably because of interference with subarachnoid absorption of CSF.
The best feeding method for the child with cleft lip may be to support the baby in an upright
position and feed the infant gently using commercial cleft lip nipple. A Breck feeder, an
apparatus similar to bulb syringe, or a Haberman feeder may also be used.
Beginning at birth, children with this syndrome are apt to have episodes in which they have
difficulty breathing because, as a result of their small jaws, their tongues are to large for their
mouths. This discrepancy causes the tongue to drop backward and obstruct the airway.
However, I am not sure if I can understand all the topic for this course. There are some topics
that for me very hard to understand. But by repeating reading, little by little I understand other
topics.

I hope/plan to read constantly the module that given, for me to learn a lot

I found the activity downloading my module easy because of the good internet connection.

I found the activity making my ncp 2 difficult because I need a lot of source to write the
rationale.

I hope there would be a change in this kind of learnings because its hard to adjust and to
understand the topic by my own understanding.

Overall, I feel blessed and satisfied because I am able to understand and to comply my
requirements on time, even there are many hindrances like internet connection and understanding
the topic.