Key Terms

analgesic

drug or medication that reduces pain or discomfort

apnea

stopped breathing

axillary temperature

temperature taken under the arm (in the armpit)

baby acne

common short-term skin condition that causes papules and pustules to break out on a baby’s face, chest, or scalp

bacterial meningitis

bacterial infection in the lining of the brain and spinal column

breast milk jaundice

(also: late-onset breast milk jaundice) jaundice occurring in the first 3 to 5 days of life and lasting 3 weeks to as long as 3 months for some infants

breast-feeding jaundice

(also: early-onset jaundice) type of jaundice in which bilirubin levels of >12 mg/dL develop in 13 percent of breast-fed infants by 1 week of life; most commonly caused this early in breast-fed infants by insufficient intake

circumcision

surgical removal of the foreskin, the layer of skin that covers the glans (head) of the penis

cluster feeding

when an infant chooses to space several feedings closely together with little time between the end of one feeding and the beginning of another

colostrum

first breast milk produced in breast-feeding

concavity

curving in of a surface

cord care

keeping the cord stump and surrounding skin clean and dry, which prevents infection and helps the stump to fall off and the navel to heal more quickly

COVID-19

infectious illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that became a pandemic disease in 2020

cradle cap

(also: seborrheic dermatitis) common, harmless skin condition on an infant’s scalp that presents as yellow, scaly patches with a red rash

crepitus

crackling or crunching sound made by the damaged bone

cyanosis

blue tint to skin and lips

dermatitis

skin inflammation

diaper rash

common form of dermatitis (skin irritation) in the diaper area of the buttocks, thighs, and genitals

donor breast milk

milk from lactating persons who pump or express breast milk and donate it to a regulated breast milk bank, following their policies and procedures

early-onset jaundice

(also: breast-feeding jaundice) type of jaundice in which bilirubin levels of >12 mg/dL develop in 13 percent of breast-fed infants by 1 week of life; most commonly caused this early in breast-fed infants by insufficient intake

eczema

common skin condition that causes patches of skin to become dry, itchy, and scaly

erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN)

skin condition in newborns that causes a red rash and small, fluid-filled bumps on the face and/or limbs

fissure

crack, opening, or split in the skin or tissues of the body, such as the anus from stooling

gastroesophageal reflux (GER)

spitting up of liquid or food, when the stomach contents move back up from a baby’s stomach into the esophagus

grunting

while breathing out (expiratory grunting), the infant’s way of trying to keep air in the lungs so they will stay open

hyperbilirubinemia

increase in the concentration of bilirubin in the serum

hypoglycemia

blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL in the term infant; a common transient occurrence in the immediate postbirth period

immunization

process by which someone becomes protected against a disease through injections into the skin, nasal spray, or by mouth

influenza

viral illness that can cause many of the same symptoms as the common cold but is accompanied by severe body aches and higher fever; commonly referred to as the flu

intercostal retraction

sucking-in between the ribs when the infant breathes in

jaundice

hyperbilirubinemia in which the skin and sclera of the eyes of the newborn may appear noticeably yellow due to the breakdown of fetal red blood cells

kernicterus

type of brain injury that can result from high levels of bilirubin in the baby’s blood

lethargy

lack of movement and energy, out-of-the-ordinary sleepiness

nasal flaring

when the nostrils flare out with each breath

nonphysiologic jaundice

(also: pathologic jaundice) jaundice that may appear in the first 24 hours of life

omphalitis

life-threatening infection of the umbilical cord

physiologic jaundice

(also: developmental jaundice) jaundice not present in the first 24 hours of life in term infants

physiologic regurgitation

(also: reflux) spitting up of stomach contents in infants, or reflux, that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle lets the stomach contents back into the esophagus because it is not fully developed

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

contagious virus causing an illness that is more serious than a cold or upper respiratory infection

seborrheic dermatitis

(also: cradle cap) common, harmless skin condition on an infant’s scalp that presents as yellow, scaly patches with a red rash

sepsis

bacterial infection in the blood

serum

amber-colored, protein-rich liquid that separates out when blood coagulates

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby that is less than a year old

swaddling

traditional practice of wrapping up a baby gently in a light, breathable blanket to help them feel calm and sleepy, thereby offering comfort

temporal artery thermometry

measures the temperature of the blood flowing through the temporal artery on the forehead

transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) monitor

painless handheld light meter that is routinely used to scan for bilirubin in the skin

transient neonatal pustular melanosis (TNPM)

normal and harmless skin condition that affects term newborns and presents with skin bumps, pustules, or blisters anywhere on the infant’s body

transitional stool

stool that follows meconium and is yellowish-green

tympanic thermometer

thermometer that uses an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear canal

umbilical cord granuloma

small nodule of tissue, which can measure up to 1 cm, that may become evident after the separation of the umbilical cord

umbilical hernia

hernia caused by a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall that allows the tissue to bulge out when there is increased abdominal pressure (e.g., crying)