Physical examination procedure of newborns from head to toe or head to toe. Newborns are called neonates with the age of 0-28 days or 1 month of age. At the time the newborn must go through a physical examination procedure to ensure the overall condition of the baby’s body. This physical examination includes the length of the baby, the weight of the baby, the size of the head circumference, and other vital organs. Then, what is the proper newborn physical examination procedure? Here’s the full explanation!
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Various Physical Examinations of Newborns
Normal newborns have characteristics of body weight between 2500 – 4000 grams, gestational age calculated from 37-40 weeks, babies cry immediately, move actively, reddish skin, suck milk well, and there are no congenital defects. For this reason, a thorough physical examination of the baby is carried out from head to toe or head to toe. There are several types of physical examinations in newborns performed by midwives or doctors to determine the baby’s condition. This physical examination includes the following:
1. Apgar Inspection
Apgar examination often referred to as Apgar Score is an examination that includes checking skin color, heart rate, reflexes or muscle strength, and baby’s breathing. The term Apgar itself includes:
- Appearance: skin color
- Pulse: heart rate
- Grimace: reflexes
- Activity: muscle strength
- Respiration: breathing
The Apgar examination based on the Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidelines is used to determine information about the baby’s clinical condition and the baby’s response to neonatal resuscitation (life transition). The score or scores of this Apgar examination are at least 7. However, the Apgar examination cannot be used as a guideline for the physical condition of newborns. Monitoring results are also needed in terms of abnormalities of umbilical arterial blood gas, cerebral system, neuroimaging, neonatal electroencephalography, placental pathology, hematology, and indications of multisystem organ dysfunction.
2. Anthropometric Examination
Anthropometric examination is an examination that includes weight, body length, head shape, head circumference, eye shape, ears, nose, to neck. This examination is to find out whether there are abnormalities in the baby or not. In addition, anthropometric examination also aims to determine the nutritional status of infants.
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3. Limb Examination
To find out the locomotion of normal newborns or have abnormalities, a physical examination of the limbs is needed which includes pulse, hands, feet, and the number of fingers moving normally.
4. Oral Examination
The oral examination is an examination that includes the gums and palate. This examination aims to determine any abnormalities in the mouth such as cleft lip or other oral abnormalities.
5. Abdominal and Genital Examination
Examination of the stomach and genitals is an examination that includes the shape of the abdominal circumference, umbilical cord, liver, stomach, intestines, and anal canal. The genital examination includes open baby urine at the right location.
6. Examination of Heart and Lung Organs
Examination of the heart and lungs can be examined using a stethoscope by a doctor to determine whether the baby’s heartbeat and heart sounds are normal or vice versa. As well as the doctor will check the baby’s breathing rate.
Newborn Physical Examination Procedure
At the time the newborn must go through the stages of physical examination. The following is the procedure for the stages of examination of normal newborns based on the stages of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia as follows:
- See the condition of posture, tone, and activity which includes the position of flexion legs and arms that move actively.
- Looking at the face, skin, lips, and mucous membranes, the chest of a normal baby is pink.
- Next, count the breathing and look at the wall pulls on, the frequency of breathing of babies born is 40-60 times per minute.
- Then calculate the heart rate using a stethoscope on the left chest, normal heart rate is 100-160 times per minute.
- Then check body temperature using a thermometer with a normal temperature of 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius.
- Seeing and palpating the head, head shape, large crown flat or not protruding.
- Seeing the eyes there is dirt or secretions.
- See if the mouth of the lips, gums, and palate are intact or not. The method of examination is to insert one finger using gloves into the mouth, and then feel the palate. Then the baby will suck firmly on the examiner’s finger.
- Looking and palpating the stomach, whether the baby’s belly is flat or palpable limp.
- Looking at the umbilical cord, make sure there is no bleeding, swelling, pus, or unpleasant smell on the umbilical cord.
- Next, look at the back and palpate the spine, making sure that there are no lumps on the spine.
- Then examine the extremities from top to bottom, making sure that there are no syndactyly, polydactyly, sideline, or abnormalities in the legs.
- The last examination looks at the anal canal, making sure the meconium is out. Also check the baby’s external natural devices, if the woman looks white or reddish vaginal discharge.
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Provide a Baby Cot (Baby Basket) To Put The Newborn
This is the supporting equipment of the hospital in the process of examining babies born in a baby cot (baby basket). Baby baskets are hospital or puskesmas equipment in the form of a bed used to care for newborns to stay safe. Introduce Metrisis Baby Basket to support the right hospital medical equipment for you to have. You can easily get this by contacting us via WhatsApp Admin. Tell us your requirements. You can also visit our E-Catalog storefront to see more detailed products.
Baby Anthropometry Recommendations That are Right For You
In addition to baby baskets or cots, we also recommend for you a baby anthropometric measuring instrument. Introduce Metrisis SK-TKDN Anthropometry Package from PT Solo Abadi Indonesia. Our Anthropometry kit package has been used by 1000 health institutions ranging from posyandu, puskesmas, to hospitals. Our complete anthropometry kit consists of a height measuring instrument (stadiometer), an infantometer board (infantometer board), an upper arm and head circumference (LILA), a digital baby weight scale, and a digital weight scale.
Easily get our Metrisis Anthropometry Kit Package by contacting our admin via WhatsApp. You can also visit our E-Catalog storefront to get the best price quote from us. Stay up to date with us at www.soloabadi.com.
