Examination of the Neonate

Neonates should be examined immediately after delivery, and ideally before discharge from hospital (for hospital births) or next day for home births or rapid discharges. The initial examination is usually conducted by midwifery staff in cases of uncomplicated delivery, or by the on-call paediatrician following complicated births.

Some hospitals have a policy of conducting two paediatric neonatal examinations, one shortly after birth to detect any abnormalities that require urgent action, and one before discharge. A trial comparing one with two neonatal examinations (neonatal examination and screening trial - NEST) found no evidence of a net health gain from the policy of double examination. Babies examined twice were more likely to have suspected congenital abnormalities, especially hip abnormalities, but not more likely to require active management. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to use of community, outpatient, inpatient resources, or in health care received. It concluded that a single examination policy would save resources both during the postnatal hospital stay, and through fewer outpatient consultations.¹

A brief screening examination should be conducted checking the face, eyes, mouth, chest, abdomen, spine and limbs to exclude major abnormalities. A strong cry and a widespread pink blush over the face and body are good signs that all is well. Some children may be born with indiscriminate genitalia. In such cases it is important not to guess at the likely gender of the child, but advise that it is uncertain and that further tests will be needed. If you have sufficient clinical experience an orogastric tube should be passed when the neonate's mother has suffered polyhydramnios. This excludes oesophageal atresia.

The Apgar score gives a reproducible, quantitative, semi-objective assessment of neonatal condition that is useful for assessing a baby's progress or deterioration immediately after delivery.² It is important to document it for medicolegal reasons. It is most useful following complicated births or where there are unanticipated problems with the baby after delivery. It should be checked at delivery and 2 and 5 minutes subsequently; these results should be documented in the partogram, maternal and neonatal notes.

There is an excess of mortality and an increased risk of severe neurological morbidity in infants with total Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes.³

Known colloquially as 'the baby check', this examination should be carried out by a member of the paediatric team where the baby is still in hospital, or by the GP and primary care team following home births. NICE² recommends that the aims of the examination are fully explained to the parent(s) before it is conducted. The findings should be shared with the parent(s) and recorded in the postnatal care plan and the personal child health record. NICE advises that the examination should be carried out within 72 hours of birth and incorporate:

• A review of parental concerns and the baby's medical history
• Family, maternal, antenatal and perinatal history
• Fetal, neonatal and infant history including any previously plotted birth-weight and head circumference
• Whether the baby has passed meconium and urine (and urinary stream in a boy)
• Other screening tests as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee should also be carried out or arranged at this time.⁴

• NICE recommend that newborn screening tests, as currently advised by the UK National Screening Committee, should be offered to all UK-born children.
• This includes the newborn heel-prick blood-spot test traditionally used to pick up phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. The bloodspot or heel prick test is taken between 5 and 8 days ((ideally at day 5, count date of birth as day 0). It may include tests for other metabolic abnormalities in future.
  • Sickle Cell Disease: all newborn babies in England are to be offered screening for sickle cell disease, irrespective of family/ethnic origins the offer of screening is NOT based on an assessment of risk.⁵
  • Cystic Fibrosis. Biochemical screening is being phased in and should have become uniform after April 2007.
  • Medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase. The Department of Health have funded a pilot study in six UK centres screening more than 700,000 babies. The remaining 7 centres will be funded from April 2009.
• The routine neonatal screening examination should be repeated at 6–8 weeks and an assessment of visual fixation and social smiling conducted.
• A hearing screen should be completed before discharge from hospital (or by week 4 in hospital programme/week 5 in the community programme).

• Capillary or macular haemangioma:
  • Also known as stork mark/bites, or salmon patch; found around eyes and nape of neck in 30–50% babies
  • Those around eyes normally disappear in first year, commonly persist if on nape of neck
• Blue-black pigmented area:
  • Also known as Mongolian blue spots; seen at base of back and on buttocks. These are common in dark-skinned parents but can occur in Caucasian infants.
  • They normally disappear over first year
• Urticaria of the newborn:
  • This is most evident on 2nd day as fluctuating, widespread erythematous rash with raised white/cream dot at centre of a red flare, mostly apparent on trunk; disappears spontaneously without treatment.
• Heat rash:
  • Also known as miliaria may appear as either red, macular patches or superficial, clear vesicles that are most marked on forehead and around neck.
  • Associated with warm humid environment and will clear in cooler, drier conditions
• Breast enlargement:
  • Seen in both girls and boys; may secrete small amount of milk ('witches milk')
  • Thought to be due to response to circulating maternal hormones
  • Not significant unless the condition persists/progresses
• White pimples:
  • Also known as milia; seen on nose and cheeks, found in approximately 40% of newborns, due to blocked sebaceous glands
  • These clear spontaneously
• Oral cysts:
  • These are found on palate near the midline and on the gums (also known as Epstein's pearls)
  • They may be larger and on floor of mouth
  • They usually resolve spontaneously
  • Teeth can be present at birth (no action required unless they are loose or abnormal, in which case they may have to be extracted)
• Accessory skin tags:
  • Seen on face as accessory auricles anterior to the ears
  • Can be dealt with easily by surgical team
• Vestigial extra digits:
  • Can usually be dealt with easily by surgical team
• Sacral dimples:
  • These are common
  • Examine carefully to detect underlying sinus or evidence of spina bifida occulta
• Deformity of the shape of the head in the immediate post-natal period and following days is common:
  • Such 'moulding' is non-pathological and usually resolves spontaneously
  • Assess whether there are any other craniofacial abnormalities
  • Seek expert input if unsure

• Any wide separation of the fontanelles, with presence of islands of bone (Wormian bones) may indicate cranial abnormalities caused by a range of congenital syndromes.
• A third fontanelle, found between the normal anterior and posterior fontanelles may indicate Down's syndrome.
• Abnormally shaped or placed ears may indicate fetal alcohol syndrome, craniofacial abnormalities due to abnormal branchial arch development or conditions such as Edward's syndrome (trisomy 18) or congenital renal anomalies.
• Single palmar crease can indicate Down's syndrome but may be found in children who do not suffer from this condition.
• Abnormalities of the face, jaw and ears are often associated with hearing dysfunction; hearing tests should be performed and ENT assessment requested.