Newborn Profile

 Newborns may look alike, but each has

their own physical attributes and
personalities.
 Somenewborns are fat and short while
some are long and thin.
 Thereare newborns who never give a fuss
whenever they are changed or cuddled,
but some can cry in high decibels
whenever you lift them from their cradles.
Vital Statistics

Parameter Average

Weight 6.5 to 7.5 lbs (2.9 kg to 3.4 kg)

Length 50 cm (20 in)

Head circumference 33 to 35 cm (13  to 13.7 in)

31 to 33 cm or
Chest circumference
2cm less than head circumference

Abdominal circumference 31 to 33 cm
Vital signs

Vital Sign Immediately At Birth After Birth

Temperature 36.5 to 37.2 Celsius

120-140 beats/minute
Pulse 180 beats/minute
ave.

Respiration 80 breaths/minute 30-50 breaths/minute

100/50 mmHg (by

Blood Pressure 80/46 mmHg
10thday)
Adjustment to Extrauterine Life

 The newborn’s color on the first 15 to 30 minutes of life is

still acrocyanotic, and after 2 to 6 hours, there are quick
color changes that may occur with movement or crying.
 The temperature within the first 15 to 30 minutes after
birth falls from the intrauterine temperature of 100.6 ⁰F or
38.1⁰C then stabilizes at 37.6⁰C after 2 to 6 hours.
 The rapid heart rate of as much as 180 BPM on the first 15
to 30 minutes of life will have wide swings in rate with
activity as it slows to 120-140 BPM.
 The newborn’s respirations are irregular in the first few
minutes of life, then slows to 30-60 breaths per minute
after 30 minutes and will become irregular again only
during activity.
 The newborn would be alert in the first 15 to 30
minutes of life, and later on, will alternate between
the sleeping and awakening phases.
 Just a few minutes after birth, the newborn would
respond to stimulation vigorously but would be
difficult to arouse while it is still on a resting period
until it becomes responsive again 2 to 6 hours after
birth.
 The bowel sounds can be heard after the first 15
minutes of life and becomes present afterward.
Appearance of the Newborn
 Increased concentration of red blood cells in newborns, and decreased
amount of subcutaneous fat gives them a ruddy complexion.
 In the first month, this ruddy complexion slightly fades.
 A pale and cyanotic newborn signifies that she may have poor central 
nervous system control.
 A gray color in newborns may indicate infection.
 Acrocyanosis is normal in a newborn, wherein the hands, feet, and lips are
bluish in color.
 Central cyanosis, however, is a cause for concern as this may indicate a
decrease in oxygenation.
 Jaundice appears on the second or third day of life as a result
of the breakdown of fetal red blood cells.
 Early feeding to speed the passage of feces through the
intestine and prevent reabsorption of bilirubin from the bowel
may diminish physiologic jaundice.
 Pallor in newborns is a sign of anemia, and the newborn must
be watched closely for signs of blood in the stool or vomitus.
 Harlequin sign or when a newborn who is lying on his or her
side appears red on the dependent side and pale on the upper
side does not have a clinical significance.
 Vernix caseosa or the white cream cheese-like substance is
washed away in the first bath, but never rub harshly as it will
only come off gradually.
 Lanugo or the fine, downy hair that covers the
shoulders, arms and back of the newborn would be
rubbed away by the friction of the bedding and clothes
of the newborn.
 A white, pinpoint papule called milia can be found in
some newborns, mainly on the cheek or the bridge of
the nose, and they disappear by 2 to 4 weeks of age.
 The fontanelles or the spaces or openings where the
skull bones join are soft spots on the newborn’s head.
 The anterior fontanelle is located between the two
parietal bones and the two frontal bones which gives it
a diamond shape, and normally closes at 12 to 18
months of age.
 The posterior fontanelle is located at the junction of
the parietal bones and the occipital bone and is
triangular in shape, and closes at the end of the
second month.
 Newborns cry tearlessly until three months of age when the lacrimal ducts
mature.
 Birthmarks
 Hemangiomas are vascular tumors of the skin.
 Nevus flammeus are muscular purple or dark red lesion. Generally appear on the
face and thighs.
 Strawberry hemangiomas—elevated areas formed by immature capillaries and
endothelial cells.
 Cavernous hemangiomas—these are dilated vascular spaces.
 Mongolian spots—slate gray patches across the sacrum or buttocks and consist of a
collection of pigment cells.
 Forceps marks—these are circular or linear contusion matching the rim of the
blade forceps on the infant’s cheeks.
 Permanent eye color appears on the 3rd to 12th
month of age.
 The newborn’s external ear is not yet fully formed,
and the top part of the external ear should be on a
line drawn from the inner canthus to the outer
canthus of the eye and back across the side of the
head.
 The newborn’s nose tends to look large for the face
but the rest of the face will grow more than the nose
does.
 The newborn’s mouth must open evenly when he or
she cries.
Done at 1 minute after birth and 5
minutes after birth
APPEARANCE
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