Nursing Care of the High-Risk Newborn and Family

Apnea - A sleep disorder where breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep. Characterized
by loud snoring and episodes of stop breathing. During apnea, a person stops breathing for a
period of time, which can range from a few seconds to several minutes.
Primary Apnea - a condition in which newborn stops breathing for a period of time, usually due
to a lack of oxygen or an increase in carbon dioxide levels. The respiratory pattern of primary
apnea is characterized by a gradual decrease in respiratory rate and depth, followed by a pause
in breathing.
Secondary apnea - is a condition that can occur in premature infants or infants with respiratory
illness, where there is a pause in breathing (apnea) that follows a period of normal breathing,
usually due to a lack of oxygen or increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
Transient tachypnea – a respiratory condition that occurs in newborn infants shortly after birth
caused by the delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid from the lungs after birth, resulting in
respiratory distress.
Respiratory acidosis – when the lungs can’t remove enough of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that
the body produces.
Asphyxia— is a medical condition that occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen, either due
to a lack of oxygen in the air, or due to an obstruction in the airway preventing oxygen from
reaching the lungs
Transient tachypnea – a respiratory condition that occurs in newborn infants shortly after birth
caused by the delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid from the lungs after birth, resulting in
respiratory distress.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a
medical treatment that provides temporary support for patients with severe respiratory or
cardiac failure.
Cerebral hypoxia – is a medical condition that occurs when the brain does not receive enough
oxygen to function properly. It can occur as a result of a variety of conditions, including
respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, suffocation, or near-drowning incidents.
Periodic respiration - is a breathing pattern in which a person's breathing alternates between
periods of deep, rapid breathing (hyperpnea) and shallow, slow breathing (hypopnea) with
periods of apnea (no breathing) in between.
An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) - is a sudden episode in an infant that is alarming to
the observer and is potentially life-threatening. An ALTE can be a frightening experience for
parents, as it often involves a sudden, unexpected change in the infant's breathing or behavior.
Appropriate for gestational age - refers to a term used to describe a newborn whose birth
weight falls within the normal range for their gestational age
Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) - is a rare congenital disorder that affects the development
of the lower half of the body, including the lower spine, pelvis, and legs. It occurs during fetal
development and is characterized by a range of symptoms and
Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) - is a medical condition that occurs when the size and shape
of a woman's pelvis are not compatible with the size of the fetal head, making it difficult or
impossible for the baby to pass through the birth canal during delivery.
Developmental care - Developmental care is a philosophy of care that recognizes the unique
needs of premature infants and other high-risk newborns who require specialized care in the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) - is a term used to describe infants who are born weighing
less than 1000 grams (2.2 pounds). ELBW infants are typically born prematurely, often before
28 weeks of gestation.
Dysmature - is a baby born at term or beyond but is small and underdeveloped for gestational
age.
Gestational age – number of weeks they stay in utero.
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a bleeding disorder that can occur in newborn
infants. It is caused by a deficiency of vitamin K, which is essential for the production of clotting
factors in the blood. HDN can occur in both breastfed and formula-fed infants.
Hydrops fetalis - is a condition in which excessive fluid builds up in a fetus, causing severe
swelling and organ dysfunction. It can be caused by blood type incompatibilities, infections,
genetic disorders, or other conditions.
Hyperbilirubinemia – results from the destruction of red blood cells
Hyperglycemia - is a medical condition characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose
(sugar) in the blood.
Hypoglycemia - is a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of glucose (sugar)
in the blood.
Hypocalcemia – abnormally low calcium in the blood
Hypercalcemia - abnormally high calcium in the blood
Intrauterine growth retardation - abnormally low calcium in the blood
Kernicterus – severe jaundice
Large for gestational age – infant weight above the 90th percentile
Small for gestational age – infant weight below the 10th percentile
Low birthweight – infant born between 30 and 36 weeks gestation (birthweight less than 2500)
Macrosomia - refers to a condition where a baby is born weighing more than 4,000 grams (8
pounds, 13 ounces) regardless of the gestational age or sex
Ophthalmia neonatorum – Newborn eyes become infected during or shortly after birth.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - is a condition that affects the eyes of premature infants,
particularly those born before 31 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight of less than 1500
grams. ROP is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which can lead to scarring,
bleeding, and other complications that can ultimately lead to blindness.
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) - is a type of brain injury that affects infants, especially
those born prematurely. It is characterized by damage to the white matter around the
ventricles (fluid-filled spaces) of the brain, which can lead to neurological problems such as
cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and cognitive impairment.
Post-term infant - born after 42 weeks of pregnancy
post-term syndrome – condition occurs when mother don’t give birth up until 42 weeks
Preterm infant - is a newborn baby who is born before 37 weeks of gestation.
Shoulder dystocia - occurs when one or both shoulders of the baby become stuck behind the
mother's pubic bone during delivery.
Term infant – born after week 38 or before week 43 of pregnancy
Ductus arteriousus – is a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery and the aorta in the
developing fetus.
laryngoscopy - is a procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth in order to
visualize the larynx (the voice box). This method can detect abnormalities in the voice box
ranging from polyps to laryngeal cancer.
Tracheoesophageal fistula - is an abnormal connection between your esophagus and trachea.
It’s characterized by a faulty connection between the windpipe and esophagus, resulting in
breathing and feeding issues.
Resuscitation - is the process of correcting physiological disorders (such as lack of breathing or
heartbeat) in an acutely ill patient
Meconium is the earliest stool of a mammalian infant resulting from defecation. Unlike later
feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the
uterus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - infection in pregnant women can lead to congenital CMV which can
cause hearing loss and developmental issues in infants. Congenital CMV occurs when pregnant
women infected with CMV during pregnancy or just before conceiving pass it onto their
children
Toxoplasmosis - is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Congenital toxoplasmosis
can cause fetal death, stillbirths or long-term disabling sequelae, particularly among untreated
infants. The majority of infants with congenital toxoplasmosis have no apparent clinical
manifestations at birth.- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a medical treatment
that provides temporary support for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure.
Cerebral hypoxia – is a medical condition that occurs when the brain does not receive enough
oxygen to function properly. It can occur as a result of a variety of conditions, including
respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, suffocation, or near-drowning incidents.
Periodic respiration - is a breathing pattern in which a person's breathing alternates between
periods of deep, rapid breathing (hyperpnea) and shallow, slow breathing (hypopnea) with
periods of apnea (no breathing) in between.
An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) - is a sudden episode in an infant that is alarming to
the observer and is potentially life-threatening. An ALTE can be a frightening experience for
parents, as it often involves a sudden, unexpected change in the infant's breathing or behavior.
Appropriate for gestational age - refers to a term used to describe a newborn whose birth
weight falls within the normal range for their gestational age
Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) - is a rare congenital disorder that affects the development
of the lower half of the body, including the lower spine, pelvis, and legs. It occurs during fetal
development and is characterized by a range of symptoms and
Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) - is a medical condition that occurs when the size and shape
of a woman's pelvis are not compatible with the size of the fetal head, making it difficult or
impossible for the baby to pass through the birth canal during delivery.
Developmental care - Developmental care is a philosophy of care that recognizes the unique
needs of premature infants and other high-risk newborns who require specialized care in the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) - is a term used to describe infants who are born weighing
less than 1000 grams (2.2 pounds). ELBW infants are typically born prematurely, often before
28 weeks of gestation.
Dysmature - is a baby born at term or beyond but is small and underdeveloped for gestational
age.
Gestational age – number of weeks they stay in utero.
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) - is a bleeding disorder that can occur in newborn
infants. It is caused by a deficiency of vitamin K, which is essential for the production of clotting
factors in the blood. HDN can occur in both breastfed and formula-fed infants.
Hydrops fetalis - is a condition in which excessive fluid builds up in a fetus, causing severe
swelling and organ dysfunction. It can be caused by blood type incompatibilities, infections,
genetic disorders, or other conditions.
Hyperbilirubinemia – results from the destruction of red blood cells
Hyperglycemia - is a medical condition characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose
(sugar) in the blood.
Hypoglycemia - is a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of glucose (sugar)
in the blood.
Hypocalcemia – abnormally low calcium in the blood
Hypercalcemia - abnormally high calcium in the blood
Intrauterine growth retardation - abnormally low calcium in the blood
Kernicterus – severe jaundice
Large for gestational age – infant weight above the 90th percentile
Small for gestational age – infant weight below the 10th percentile
Low birthweight – infant born between 30 and 36 weeks gestation (birthweight less than 2500)
Macrosomia - refers to a condition where a baby is born weighing more than 4,000 grams (8
pounds, 13 ounces) regardless of the gestational age or sex
Ophthalmia neonatorum – Newborn eyes become infected during or shortly after birth.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - is a condition that affects the eyes of premature infants,
particularly those born before 31 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight of less than 1500
grams. ROP is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which can lead to scarring,
bleeding, and other complications that can ultimately lead to blindness.
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) - is a type of brain injury that affects infants, especially
those born prematurely. It is characterized by damage to the white matter around the
ventricles (fluid-filled spaces) of the brain, which can lead to neurological problems such as
cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and cognitive impairment.
Post-term infant - born after 42 weeks of pregnancy
post-term syndrome – condition occurs when mother don’t give birth up until 42 weeks
Preterm infant - is a newborn baby who is born before 37 weeks of gestation.
Shoulder dystocia - occurs when one or both shoulders of the baby become stuck behind the
mother's pubic bone during delivery.
Term infant – born after week 38 or before week 43 of pregnancy
Ductus arteriousus – is a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery and the aorta in the
developing fetus.
Laryngoscopy - is a procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth in order to
visualize the larynx (the voice box). This method can detect abnormalities in the voice box
ranging from polyps to laryngeal cancer.
Tracheoesophageal fistula - is an abnormal connection between your esophagus and trachea.
It’s characterized by a faulty connection between the windpipe and esophagus, resulting in
breathing and feeding issues.
Resuscitation - is the process of correcting physiological disorders (such as lack of breathing or
heartbeat) in an acutely ill patient
Meconium - is the earliest stool of a mammalian infant resulting from defecation. Unlike later
feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the
uterus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - infection in pregnant women can lead to congenital CMV which can
cause hearing loss and developmental issues in infants. Congenital CMV occurs when pregnant
women infected with CMV during pregnancy or just before conceiving pass it onto their
children
Toxoplasmosis - is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Congenital toxoplasmosis
can cause fetal death, stillbirths or long-term disabling sequelae, particularly among untreated
infants. The majority of infants with congenital toxoplasmosis have no apparent clinical
manifestations at birth.