Question

a nurse in a newborn nursery is performing assessment on four neonates that are born less than 24 hr old. The nurse should plan to notify the provider of which of the following findings?

a. head circumference 1 cm greater than chest b. positive Babinski reflex on bilateral feet c. passage of meconium stool d. pinna below the outer canthus of the eye

Answer 1

Answer: Passage of meconium stool.

Meconium is a viscous and sticky like faces with dark olive green colour and without odour.

The first stool meconium will be passed by a full term healthy infant mostly in first 24 hours of birth. If it is not happened in first 24 hours, intestinal obstruction can be suspected. So immediate medical attention is important in this case.

The colour of meconium may varry from green to yellow day by day. The doctor will assess whether the baby has passed meconium by checking meconium stained amniotic fluid, meconium stained baby with green color, breathing problem or jeartbof baby etc. If amniotic fluid is meconium stained,the colour will be green, brown or yellow.

Meconium aspiration syndrome is a leading cause of death in infants.

All other options mentioned above are not significant within 24 hours of assessment.