New Ballard Scale
New Ballard Scale ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is using the New Ballard Scale to assess a newborn and observes well-developed breast buds, creases on the bottom of feet, and no lanugo.
How would the nurse categorize the gestational age of this baby?
According to the New Ballard Score, a newborn with well-developed breast buds, creases on the bottom of feet, and no lanugo has a total physical maturity score of 40, which corresponds to a gestational age of 40 weeks.
A pre-term baby has a gestational age of less than 37 weeks and would have immature physical characteristics such as sticky or transparent skin, no creases on the feet, and abundant lanugo.
A late pre-term baby has a gestational age of 34 to 36 weeks and would have less developed physical characteristics such as smooth pink skin, faint red marks on the feet, and thinning lanugo.
A post-term baby has a gestational age of more than 42 weeks and would have more advanced physical characteristics such as cracking or leathery skin, no lanugo, and pendulous testes or large labia majora.
According to the New Ballard Score, a newborn with well-developed breast buds, creases on the bottom of feet, and no lanugo has a total physical maturity score of 40, which corresponds to a gestational age of 40 weeks.
This is within the normal range of 37 to 42 weeks for a full-term baby.
Choice B. Pre-term is wrong because a pre-term baby has a gestational age of less than 37 weeks and would have immature physical characteristics such as sticky or transparent skin, no creases on the feet, and abundant lanugo.
Choice C. Late pre-term is wrong because a late pre-term baby has a gestational age of 34 to 36 weeks and would have less developed physical characteristics such as smooth pink skin, faint red marks on the feet, and thinning lanugo.
Choice D. Post-term is wrong because a post-term baby has a gestational age of more than 42 weeks and would have more advanced physical characteristics such as cracking or leathery skin, no lanugo, and pendulous testes or large labia majora.