What is a normal newborn in pediatrics?
A normal newborn or neonate is a healthy infant from birth to 28 days of life who shows normal physiological adaptation to life outside the uterus and has no major congenital abnormalities or illnesses.
What is the normal birth weight of a term newborn?
The normal birth weight of a term newborn ranges from 2.5 kg to 4 kg. Babies weighing less than 2.5 kg are considered low birth weight.
What are the normal vital signs of a newborn?
Normal newborn vital signs include a heart rate of 120–160 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 40–60 breaths per minute, and body temperature between 36.5°C and 37.5°C.
What is the Apgar score and when is it measured?
The Apgar score is a quick assessment of a newborn’s health based on heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflex response, and color. It is measured at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.
What are the common physical characteristics of a normal newborn?
Common features include pink skin, presence of vernix caseosa, lanugo hair, soft fontanelles on the skull, strong sucking reflex, and normal primitive reflexes.
When should a newborn pass urine and meconium?
A normal newborn should pass the first urine within 24 hours of birth and the first meconium stool within 24–48 hours.
What is physiological weight loss in newborns?
Newborns normally lose about 5–10 percent of their birth weight during the first week of life due to fluid loss. Birth weight is usually regained by 10–14 days.
What are primitive reflexes in newborns?
Primitive reflexes are automatic movements present at birth such as the Moro reflex, rooting reflex, sucking reflex, palmar grasp reflex, and stepping reflex.
Why is vitamin K given to newborns after birth?
Vitamin K is given to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a condition that can cause serious bleeding due to low levels of clotting factors in newborns.
What is the recommended feeding method for newborns?
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life because breast milk provides ideal nutrition and protective antibodies.
