High Risk Neonates

Eight Priority Needs in the First Few Days of Life of an Infant:
1. Initiation and maintenance of respiration.
2. Establishment of extrauterine circulation.
3. Control of body temperature.
4. Intake of adequate nourishment.
5. Establishment of waster eliminatior.
6. Prevention of Infection.
7. Establishment of an infant-parent relationship
8. Developmental Care.
Risk for Neonates.
PRETERM INFANTS
They are more likely born before the end of the 37th week of gestation. They weigh less than 2,500 grams, immature and small, but well proportioned for age. The most potential complications that they may have are Anemia, Kernicterus (Toxicity to the brain because of excessive breakdown of RBC), Persisten Patent Ductus Arteriosus (Lack of Surfactants in the lungs which helps the blood to move from Pulmonary arteries to the lungs), Hemorrhage,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and Retinopathy of Prematurity (exposure to high oxygen concentration leading to blindness).
POST-TERM INFANTS
They are born after 42nd week of pregnancy, more possible to have hypoglycemia because the placenta, which is the one that supplies the infant food, loses it's ability beyond 40 weeks of pregnancy, this results to the use of stored glycogen for nourishment leading to lesser glucose. Illnesses in the newborn are Transient Tachypnea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (unknown cause but says that the cause of death is because of sleeping of the infant in a prone position), Hyperbilirubinemia, Hemolytic Disease or Rh incompatibility, ABO incompatibility, Hemorrhage due to lack of Vitamin K, Neonatal Sepsis, and Necrotinizing Enterocolitis.