Question

Which findings would the nurse expect in a newborn who is considered small for gestational age? Select all that apply.

A. Excessive body weight
B. Poor muscle tone
C. Large head circumference
D. Meconium staining

Answer 1

A nurse would expect a newborn who is considered small for gestational age to exhibit poor muscle tone, a large head circumference relative to body size, and possible meconium staining, but not excessive body weight.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a newborn who is considered small for gestational age (SGA), a nurse would expect to find certain clinical features. These infants are usually born with a birth weight below the 10th percentile for their gestational age, which means they weigh less than most other babies at the same number of weeks of gestation. They can exhibit signs such as:

• Poor muscle tone: Muscle tone may be reduced due to lower fat reserves and less muscle development.
• Large head circumference relative to body size: This is because the head is often spared in the growth restriction process, leading to an asymmetry between head size and the rest of the body.
• Meconium staining: Meconium is the newborn's first stool, and its presence may indicate fetal distress or that the infant passed meconium before birth, which can be a sign of SGA.

SGA infants might have experienced intrauterine growth restriction, which can be due to numerous maternal, fetal, or placental issues. SGA is not typically characterized by excessive body weight, as low birth weight is a core feature.