Question

When doing a newborn assessment of a male infant after a scheduled cesarean birth, the nurse identifies that the infant's head circumference is 4 cm smaller than his chest. What does this finding indicate?

A. Expected in male newborns
B. Predicted after cesarean birth
C. Larger than average chest size
D. Smaller than average head size

Answer 1

The finding of the newborn's head circumference being 4 cm smaller than the chest may indicate a smaller than average head size, which is not typical newborn proportions and could suggest a need for further assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing a newborn assessment and noting that the infant's head circumference is 4 cm smaller than his chest circumference, it may raise questions about the infant's growth and development. Typically, a newborn's head is quite large relative to the rest of the body, making up about one-quarter of the baby's total body length. A smaller head size could potentially indicate growth restriction or developmental issues, but it's also important to consider the baby's overall health, gestational age at birth, and other assessment findings. The answer to the student's question would likely be D. Smaller than average head size, as it is unlikely to be a predicted characteristic specifically related to cesarean birth, nor does it automatically indicate an expected finding in male newborns or necessarily a larger than average chest size without additional context.