Normal Newborn Fontanelle Assessment

However they should return to normal when the infant is in a calm head up position.

Normal newborn fontanelle assessment. The body of a normal newborn is essentially cylindrical. Conducting the examination while parents observe allows the nurse to use this time to identify and discuss normal newborn characteristics and note variations. Junction of coronal suture and sagittal suture.

Ensure you make note of any retraction or bulging as the normal fontanelle feels firm and flat not sunken or bulging. 5 the infant s sitting height measured from crown to rump is. When the infant is crying lying down or vomiting the fontanelles may look like they are bulging.

The infant s normal heart rate is 120 160 beats per minute and irregular. Obtain anteroposterior diameter ap obtain transverse diameter t size ap t 2. Large flat and soft fontanels could be due to hydrocephaly hypothyroidism or malnutrition.

Figure 1 illustrates a normal newborn skull and common deformities. Initial rapid assessment of newborn. On the first day of an infant s life the normal fontanel ranges from 0 6 cm to 3 6 cm with a mean of 2 1 cm 17 black infants have larger fontanels 1 4 cm to 4 7 cm 16 the fontanels of full.

You may also notice visible pulsations in the anterior fontanelle wheeler 2015 which is normal. Pressure on the baby s head during vaginal delivery can change the shape of the newborn s head. Perinatal and neonatal nurses frequently perform the first head to toe physical assessment of the newborn.

Depressed fontanels can be due to dehydration whereas bulging fontanels can be due to hemorrhage infection or tumor. For a term baby the average circumference of the head is 33 35 cm 13 14 inches and the average circumference of the chest is 30 33 cm 12 13 inches. Dehydration and not bulging e g.