Normal Newborn Fontanelle Assessment

For a term baby the average circumference of the head is 33 35 cm 13 14 inches and the average circumference of the chest is 30 33 cm 12 13 inches.

Normal newborn fontanelle assessment. You may also notice visible pulsations in the anterior fontanelle wheeler 2015 which is normal. Conducting the examination while parents observe allows the nurse to use this time to identify and discuss normal newborn characteristics and note variations. 2 1 cm larger in black infants and may range up to 3 6 cm diameter.

Depressed fontanels can be due to dehydration whereas bulging fontanels can be due to hemorrhage infection or tumor. Increased intracranial pressure anterior fontanelle is 2 1 cm on average at birth up to 3 to 6 cm in diameter posterior fontanelle is 0 5 to 0 7 cm on average at birth up to 1 to 1 5 cm in diameter. On the first day of an infant s life the normal fontanel ranges from 0 6 cm to 3 6 cm with a mean of 2 1 cm 17 black infants have larger fontanels 1 4 cm to 4 7 cm 16 the fontanels of full.

A tense or bulging fontanelle occurs when fluid builds up in the brain or the brain swells causing increased pressure inside the skull. Ideally this examination occurs in the presence of the parents. 5 the infant s sitting height measured from crown to rump is.

Figure 1 illustrates a normal newborn skull and common deformities. The anterior fontanelle is generally 3 to 6 cm in diameter whereas the posterior fontanelle is no larger than 1 to 1 5 cm in. Junction of coronal suture and sagittal suture.

Fontanelle should be soft not sunken e g. The body of a normal newborn is essentially cylindrical. Large flat and soft fontanels could be due to hydrocephaly hypothyroidism or malnutrition.

Obtain anteroposterior diameter ap obtain transverse diameter t size ap t 2. Head circumference slightly exceeds that of the chest. Initial rapid assessment of newborn.