Foundations Practical - Neonatal

Newborn Infant

Newborn

Some essential systems come online, others continue to develop.

The neonatal period is about the transition from an interuterine placenta and maternally supported life to life to relatively independent life in the external environment.

In developing a broad understanding of the neonatal period you need to think about the two different environments and the effects of loss of placental support. Also remember that substantial postnatal development still has to occur postnatally in the musculoskeletal, nervous and immune systems.

Birth

The median duration of gestation for first births from assumed ovulation to delivery was 274 days (just over 39 weeks). For multiple births, the median duration of pregnancy was 269 days (38.4 weeks).

Newborn Homoeostasis

The newborn has to establish:

lung function
circulatory changes
thermoregulation
endocrine function
nutrition
gastrointestinal tract function
waste
kidney function

Australian Birth

Now briefly consider the current Australian trends in birth and the new reproductive technologies available.

Maternal Changes

Puerperium - six weeks following birth, maternal reproductive organs and physiology return to pre-pregnancy state.
Involution - process of tissue catabolism of uterus.
Lochia - uterine (placental) discharge, blood plus mucous, continues for about 4 weeks.
Mammary - glandular development and function.

Newborn Brain Changes

Postnatal brain weight increase

Complex and ongoing processes of neurological development continue postnatally.

This can be seen at the very basic level by the increase in overall brain weight.

Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 25) Embryology Foundations Practical - Neonatal. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Foundations_Practical_-_Neonatal

What Links Here?