acidotic baby with cholestrone around mouth

Published

Specializes in geriatrics.

i have a question

yesterday one nurse was holding a baby and told us that this baby smelled like nail polish remover, means this baby is acidotic, which means the baby is dehydrated. But he has so much cholestrone around his mouth. I assume the baby just didnt get the cholestrone in? Any more clearfy on that?thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do you mean colostrum?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Acidotic? As in high blood sugar? As in fat breakdown (ketoacidosis?)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Oh and if the baby is dehydrated, she/he would need regular feeds with formula, and/or IVF.

If mom's breastmilk hasn't come in, that is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
Do you mean colostrum?

yes yes colostrum, first breastmilk, nightshift for me, cant spell, sry!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
Acidotic? As in high blood sugar? As in fat breakdown (ketoacidosis?)

thats where it doesnt make sense to me, she clearly said acidotic, so i was thinking of ketoacidosis as well but i couldnt relate it with dehydration. if you could clearly a little bit more that would be great!

im starting my 6th L&D practicum shift!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
Oh and if the baby is dehydrated, she/he would need regular feeds with formula, and/or IVF.

If mom's breastmilk hasn't come in, that is.

mom's milk is in, lots colostrum around baby's mouth

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Metabolic acidosis and ketosis is not an uncommon finding in pediatric patients with volume depletion and/or dehydration. You can appreciate the pathology of the acidosis when considering the effects of decreased cellular perfusion: Loss of oxidative phosphorylation---> loss of the tricarboxylic acid cycle---> conversion of pyruvate to lactate and the eventual onset of lactic acidosis.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Translation:

Less volume = buildup of lactic acid = acidosis.

The more common term.

Fix? Feed more/IVF.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A baby not getting enough breast milk would be HYPOglycemic and dehydrated. A metabolic imbalance would be a late sign. I would think you would see dry diapers, lethargy, etc long before a metabolic imbalance bad enough to produce an odor. Newborns aren't usually HYPERglycemic unless on IV therapy. I would suspect some metabolic disorder if a baby really smelled like acetone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
A baby not getting enough breast milk would be HYPOglycemic and dehydrated. A metabolic imbalance would be a late sign. I would think you would see dry diapers, lethargy, etc long before a metabolic imbalance bad enough to produce an odor. Newborns aren't usually HYPERglycemic unless on IV therapy. I would suspect some metabolic disorder if a baby really smelled like acetone.

thank you for the clearfying!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
Translation:

Less volume = buildup of lactic acid = acidosis.

The more common term.

Fix? Feed more/IVF.

thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion