XII Glossary
ABO incompatibility: Blood group incompatibility in which a mother has Type O blood and the fetus has Type A, B, or AB blood. (Chapter 12.3)
Acrocyanosis: Blue hands and feet. (Chapter 12.5)
Apgar score: A tool used to evaluate how well the newborn is tolerating the transition from fetal to neonatal circulation. (Chapter 12.5)
Atopic dermatitis: Also known as eczema; a chronic skin condition that causes dry, itchy rashes. (Chapter 12.5)
Babinski reflex: A normal reflex in infants where the big toe bends backward and the other toes fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked. (Chapter 12.5)
Ballard Score: A tool used to determine a newborn’s gestational age. (Chapter 12.5)
Breech: Position in which a baby’s buttocks enter the pelvis first instead of the head. (Chapter 12.5)
Candidiasis: A fungal infection caused by yeast, appearing in newborns’ mouths as whitish patches (thrush) or as red, shiny skin in the diaper area. It can also affect breastfeeding mothers. (Chapter 12.5)
Caput succedaneum: Edema of the scalp that occurs due to pressure exerted on the head during delivery. (Chapter 12.5)
Cephalohematoma: Swelling caused by an accumulation of blood under the scalp due to rupture of blood vessels during a prolonged, difficult, or assisted birth. (Chapter 12.5)
Circumcision: A surgical procedure in which the foreskin (the skin covering the tip of the penis) is removed. (Chapter 12.5)
Clubfoot: A congenital condition where the lower leg and foot turns inward and downward. (Chapter 12.6)
Cold stress: Also known as mild hypothermia; temperature below 36.5°C but above 35.5°C. (Chapter 12.3)
Colic: Diagnosed when an otherwise healthy baby cries for no apparent reason and they are not easily soothed. (Chapter 12.3)
Conduction: A process impacting newborn thermoregulation which causes heat loss anytime the newborn is placed in direct contact with a cooler surface, such as a scale or cold mattress. (Chapter 12.3)
Congenital dermal melanocytosis (CDM): Formerly called Mongolian spots, these are bluish skin discolorations found in newborns, more common in African American, Native American, and Hispanic infants. They usually fade by age four. (Chapter 12.5)
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: There is a hole in the diaphragm, allowing the organs of the abdomen to move into the newborn’s chest. (Chapter 12.5)
Convection: A process impacting newborn thermoregulation that causes heat loss from moving cool air, such as a fan or draft. (Chapter 12.3)
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDP): Refers to several hip abnormalities, including neonatal instability, acetabular or femoral dysplasia, and hip subluxation. (Chapter 12.6)
Diastasis recti: Caused by a weakening between the two rectus abdominis muscles. (Chapter 12.5)
Ductus arteriosus: A shunt within the pulmonary artery which diverts blood into the aorta. (Chapter 12.2)
Ductus venosus: A shunt that carries oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein to the right atrium of the heart in a fetus, bypassing the liver. (Chapter 12.2)
Erythema toxicum: A common newborn rash characterized by small flesh-colored papules, often appearing on the face and trunk in the first days after birth, typically resolving within a week. (Chapter 12.5)
Evaporation: A process impacting newborn thermoregulation which causes heat loss as amniotic fluid or other fluids dry on the newborn’s skin. (Chapter 12.3)
Fontanelles: Soft spots in a baby’s skull that allow the brain and skull to grow during the first year of life. (Chapter 12.5)
Foramen ovale: A shunt that connects the right atria to the left atria and avoids the pulmonary system altogether. (Chapter 12.2)
Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum: A severe eye infection in newborns caused by exposure to the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae during childbirth. (Chapter 12.5)
Hearing screening: A routine test performed on newborns to detect potential hearing loss. It involves methods like the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) or Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE). Early identification helps in reducing developmental delays associated with hearing impairments. (Chapter 12.5)
Hemangiomas: Benign vascular tumors that appear as raised, red marks on the skin. They may grow in the first months of life but typically shrink and disappear by age 10. (Chapter 12.5)
Hip dysplasia: When the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball of the femur, which can cause the hip joint to partially or completely dislocate. (Chapter 12.5)
Hydrocele: An opening permits passage of fluid into the scrotum. (Chapter 12.5)
Hydrocephalus: A congenital condition caused by excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that puts pressure on the brain. (Chapter 12.6)
Hyperbilirubinemia: Often referred to as jaundice, is a common complication seen in the newborn period. (Chapter 12.3)
Hyperthermia: Temperature above 37.5°C/99.5°F. (Chapter 12.3)
Hyperthermic: Temperature above 37.5°C/99.5°F. (Chapter 12.3)
Hypoglycemia: A blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL. (Chapter 12.3)
Hypospadias: Urethral placement on the underside of the penis rather than the tip. (Chapter 12.5)
Hypothermic: Temperature below 36.5°C/97.7°F. (Chapter 12.3)
Hypotonia: A decrease in tone. (Chapter 12.5)
Inguinal hernia: Occurs when an opening allows the bowel to extend into the scrotum and may require surgical intervention. (Chapter 12.5)
Jaundice: Occurs when bilirubin builds up faster in the blood than the liver can conjugate it for excretion from the body. (Chapter 12.3)
Lanugo: Soft, fine hair that covers a newborn’s body, especially the scalp, shoulders, back, and face. It provides warmth and protection in-utero, usually disappearing after birth. (Chapter 12.5)
Meconium: Newborn’s first stools are greenish-black and sticky. (Chapter 12.5)
Mild hypothermia: Temperature below 36.5°C but above 35.5°C. (Chapter 12.3)
Moderate hypothermia: Temperature 32.0°C to 34.9°C. (Chapter 12.3)
Moro reflex: Also called the startle reflex; occurs when a newborn is startled by a sudden sound or movement. The baby responds by extending their arms, legs, and fingers and may cry. (Chapter 12.5)
Nevus flammeus: Also known as a port-wine stain; a dark red or purple capillary malformation that can darken with age. It persists throughout life but may be treated with laser surgery for cosmetic reasons. (Chapter 12.5)
Nevus simplex: Also known as “salmon patches” or “stork bites,” these are pink-red patches on the skin due to stretched capillaries. Common on the forehead, eyelids, and neck, they usually fade within a couple of years. (Chapter 12.5)
Newborn Screening Program: A public health program that screens newborns for various congenital conditions, using blood samples taken from the baby’s heel. Early detection allows for prompt treatment to prevent severe complications. (Chapter 12.5)
Palmar grasp reflex: When an object is placed in a newborn’s palm, they respond by flexing their fingers and grasping the object. (Chapter 12.5)
Pathological jaundice: Occurs when there are abnormally elevated levels of unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin. (Chapter 12.3)
Periodic breathing: Rhythm of respirations in the newborn is often irregular with rapid breathing for a few seconds, followed by a pause for up to ten seconds, and then a resumption of breaths. (Chapter 12.5)
Perioral cyanosis: Bluish discoloration around the mouth. (Chapter 12.5)
Physiological jaundice: A normal process that occurs during the transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life in which the immature neonatal liver gradually matures and begins to effectively conjugate bilirubin. (Chapter 12.3)
Plantar grasp reflex: Similar to the palmar grasp but occurs when pressure is applied to the sole of the foot, causing the toes to curl under. (Chapter 12.5)
Polydactyly: An excessive number of fingers or toes. (Chapter 12.5)
Positional plagiocephaly: A condition where an infant develops flat spots on the head, often due to repeated pressure on the back of the head. (Chapter 12.3)
Radiation: A process impacting newborn thermoregulation which causes heat loss when the newborn is placed near cooler objects, such as an outside wall or window. (Chapter 12.3)
Rh incompatibility: Blood group incompatibility which occurs when a mother who is Rh-negative is pregnant with a fetus who is Rh-positive. (Chapter 12.3)
Rooting reflex: Helps the newborn prepare for feeding and is elicited by stroking the newborn’s cheek with a finger or nipple. (Chapter 12.5)
Rugae: The creases over the surface of the scrotum. (Chapter 12.5)
Seborrheic dermatitis: Known as cradle cap in infants; an oily rash that causes thick, yellow scales on the scalp, as well as redness in the face, neck, and behind the ears. It typically resolves on its own with gentle care. (Chapter 12.5)
Severe hypothermia: Temperature less than 32.0°C. (Chapter 12.3)
Shoulder dystocia: The shoulder of the newborn becomes stuck on the mother’s pubic symphysis. (Chapter 12.5)
Shunts: A term for alternative circulatory pathways that allow blood to bypass the lungs and liver until birth. (Chapter 12.2)
Spina bifida: A neural tube defect where the spine does not form or close correctly during fetal development in utero. (Chapter 12.6)
Stepping reflex: When a newborn’s feet touch a surface, they appear to “walk” by placing one foot in front of the other. (Chapter 12.5)
Suck reflex: This reflex can be tested by putting a gloved finger or pacifier in the newborn’s mouth and assessing the strength and coordination of the suck. (Chapter 12.5)
Syndactyly: Webbing of the toes or fingers. (Chapter 12.5)
The Warm Chain: A set of actions that can be taken to protect the newborn from the effects of hypothermia at birth and the following few days to minimize the risks for heat loss. (Chapter 12.3)
Tonic neck reflex: Also known as the “fencing” position; occurs when the baby’s head is turned to one side. The arm and leg on that side will extend, while the opposite limbs bend. (Chapter 12.5)
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN): May be observed when there is a delay in clearing fluid from the lungs after birth. (Chapter 12.5)
Umbilical vein: A blood vessel in the umbilical cord that carries oxygenated blood and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus. (Chapter 12.2)
Vernix: A cheese-like substance that covers the skin of the newborn and protects their sensitive skin in-utero from prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid. (Chapter 12.3)
Vernix caseosa: Often simply referred to as vernix; is a cheese-like substance that covers the skin of the newborn and protects their sensitive skin in-utero from prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid. (Chapter 12.5)
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB): A condition in newborns caused by a lack of vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. (Chapter 12.5)