A complete physical exam is an important part of newborn care. Each body system is carefully checked for signs of health and normal function. The doctor also looks for any signs of illness or birth defects. Physical exam of a newborn often includes assessment of the following:
- Vital signs:
- Temperature
- Heart rate
- Breathing rate
- Blood pressure
- Oxygen saturation
- General appearance. Physical activity, muscle tone, posture, and level of consciousness or whether or not an infant is awake and alert.
- Weight and length
- Skin. Color, texture, nails, presence of rashes
- Head and neck:
- Appearance, shape, and shaping of the head from passage through the birth canal (molding)
- Circumference (distance around) of the head
- The open soft spots between the bones of the baby's skull (fontanels)
- Bones across the upper chest (clavicles)
- Face. Eyes, ears, nose, cheeks. Presence of red reflex in the eyes.
- Mouth. Roof of the mouth (palate), tongue, and throat
- Lungs. Breath sounds, breathing pattern
- Heart sounds and femoral (in the groin) pulses
- Abdomen. Presence of masses or hernias
- Genitals and anus. Open passage for urine and stool and normally formed genitals
- Neurologic. Tone, neonatal reflexes are assessed.
Featured in
Personalized care starts with the right provider
Search by specialty, location, and more.
FIND A DOCTORRelated Articles
Gestational Age Assessment
It's not always easy to tell a newborn's age by their size. Premature babies are usually small, but full-term and past-term babies can be small, too. That's when doctors will do a gestational assessment to determine if a newborn needs special treatment.
Newborn Metabolic Screening
Because some potential problems aren't readily seen at birth, all newborns are tested for certain conditions, including metabolic disorders.
Fever in a Newborn Baby
The system that controls body temperature is not well developed in a newborn. Here's what you need to know about fever and your baby.
Newborn Reflexes
Ever wonder why your baby flings his arms out sideways when startled? This reaction--called the Moro reflex--is one of many natural reflexes your newborn should exhibit. Read on to learn about common newborn reflexes and what they mean.
