Final answer:
The tools used to assess a newborn's gestational age include the mother's LMP, antenatal ultrasound, and Ballard scoring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tools used to assess a newborn's gestational age include the mother's Last Menstrual Period (LMP), antenatal ultrasound, and Ballard scoring. The mother's LMP is used to estimate the gestational age based on the date of her last menstrual period. Antenatal ultrasound provides a visual assessment of the fetus's development and can help determine the gestational age. Ballard scoring is a method where various physical and neuromuscular characteristics of the newborn are assessed to estimate their gestational age.
For example, the mother's LMP can give an approximate gestational age if the date is known. Antenatal ultrasound can measure the crown-rump length of the fetus to determine the gestational age. Ballard scoring assesses criteria such as physical maturity, reflexes, and muscle tone to estimate the gestational age of the newborn.