The maternal history
Before we explore the process of examining the newborn baby, we must first consider what was going on for the mother during her pregnancy. By undertaking a maternal history, the …
Course: Assessment of the Newborn
Assessing the mouth, jaw and chin
We finish our observation of the head and face, by investigating the lips, oral cavity and jaw of the newborn. When assessing the newborn’s mouth, you should not see evidence …
Face, eyes, ears and nose
Checking for symmetry is a key focus when assessing the newborn’s eyes, ears and nose. Start by imagining a straight line down the centre of the newborn’s face. Observe and …
Head and scalp assessment
In a head to toe assessment, it makes sense to begin with an examination of the baby’s skull. Let’s explore what to note during your examination. Our first step is …
Setting the scene
Before we begin the instructions for the head to toe assessment, let’s first prepare the environment. This first assessment of the newborn ensures the baby has adapted to life outside …
That’s a wrap!
Thanks for joining us this week. We trust you’ve enjoyed learning about newborn assessment and are feeling more confident about approaching the baby’s first physical examination. If you are a …
You’re in great hands with Griffith University
Let’s explore our learning philosophy and how you can make the most of this course. Our aim is to challenge you with new and interesting ideas and encourage you to …
Welcome to Week 1
This course has been designed to build your confidence and knowledge in assessing the newborn baby. Together, we’ll show you how to prepare for and conduct this important examination. By …
Pelvis, hips and limbs
Our head to toe assessment concludes with an examination of the baby’s pelvis, arms and legs. We assess the newborn’s hips in order to check for congenital hip dysplasia (dislocation …
Assessing the abdomen and back
Our assessment moves to the abdomen and back. You will again require your stethoscope and powers of observation. First, observe the baby at rest. Assess the abdomen visually for shape …
Assessing newborn cardiac status
Time to assess the baby’s heart beat. After you’ve assessed the chest and respiratory status of the newborn, auscultate for heart sounds. These are best heard along the left sternal …
Assessing respiration
We next assess the baby’s chest, to listen to breathing and visually check structure. To observe the chest, begin by simply observing the baby at rest. Note the shape of …
