Published
this is from the maternal-newborn textbook, in the section about Apgar scoring (and it doesn't even mention taking an apical rate - only the site at the junction of the umbilical cord & skin).thanks for the input
Hi, wow that is kind of weird, I have been going to deliverys for a while and have taken alot of classes and never have heard of listening at the base of the the cord, just palpating. I'll try it tonight and see if its better than apical and let you know. BTW, the AAP in their NRP guidelines says you can just assume the rate is above 100 if the baby is crying, pink, etc
crissy
thanks if you have an opportunity to check how the apical compares to the umbilical junction site
I went back and read that section again, and this is what it says to do "the heart rate is auscultated or palpated at the junction of the umbilical cord and skin" and the apical isn't mentioned at all in the section about the Apgar scoring system
the textbook says that the heart rate is auscultated or palpated at the junction of the umbilical cord and skin.
I don't know; maybe it's me but the way I read it is: (paraphrased)
for a newly born infant there are two ways to get a heart rate:
1. Auscultate (no site specified; but I would assume apical)
2. Palpate at the base of the cord.
Do you think this is what they meant as none of us have heard of auscultating the base of the cord.
I don't know; maybe it's me but the way I read it is: (paraphrased)for a newly born infant there are two ways to get a heart rate:
1. Auscultate (no site specified; but I would assume apical)
2. Palpate at the base of the cord.
Do you think this is what they meant as none of us have heard of auscultating the base of the cord.
What's the name of that book? "The Panda Eats, Shoots and Leaves." ?
I think it's all in how you read it.
I don't know; maybe it's me but the way I read it is: (paraphrased)for a newly born infant there are two ways to get a heart rate:
1. Auscultate (no site specified; but I would assume apical)
2. Palpate at the base of the cord.
Do you think this is what they meant as none of us have heard of auscultating the base of the cord.
That's how I read it, too.
When I go to a delivery with the NICU team, I rarely use my stethescope to auscultate - it's just easier to use the pulsing cord. This way everyone can still have a clear view of the baby's chest to watch for retractions without my arm in the way, I can count even if the baby is crying, and frankly, my stethescope doesn't get covered in vernix or meconium!!!
GingerSue
1,842 Posts
I'm reading about rating the newborn at 1 minute after birth aand again at 5 minutes, and the textbook says that the heart rate is auscultated or palpated at the junction of the umbilical cord and skin.
Why is this site used rather than the apical rate?