CHAPTER 22 PHYSIOLOGIC AND BEHAVIORAL
ADAPTATIONS OF THE NEWBORN PERRY
MATERNAL CHILD NURSING CARE, 6TH EDITION
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE
1. A woman gave birth to a healthy 7-lb, 13-ounce infant girl. The nurse suggests that the woman place
the infant to her breast within 15 minutes after birth. The nurse knows that breastfeeding is effective
during the first 30 minutes after birth because this is the:
a. transition period.
b. first period of reactivity.
c. organizational stage.
d. second period of reactivity.
ANS: B
The first period of reactivity is the first phase of transition and lasts up to 30 minutes after birth. The
infant is highly alert during this phase. The transition period is the phase between intrauterine and
extrauterine existence. There is no such phase as the organizational stage. The second period of
reactivity occurs roughly between 4 and 8 hours after birth, after a period of prolonged sleep.
2. Part of the health assessment of a newborn is observing the infant's breathing pattern. A full-term
newborn's breathing pattern is predominantly:
a. abdominal with synchronous chest movements.
b. chest breathing with nasal flaring.
c. diaphragmatic with chest retraction.
d. deep with a regular rhythm.
ANS: A
In normal infant respiration the chest and abdomen rise synchronously, and breaths are shallow and
irregular. Breathing with nasal flaring is a sign of respiratory distress. Diaphragmatic breathing with
chest retraction is a sign of respiratory distress. Infant breaths are not deep with a regular rhythm.
3. While assessing the newborn, the nurse should be aware that the average expected apical pulse range
of a full-term, quiet, alert newborn is:
