2. Stroking, cuddling.
3. Crooning, calling baby by name, talking to infant.

3. Mother demonstrates comfort and skill in basic newborn care.
4. Mother verbalizes understanding of subjects discussed:
   1. Safety precautions.
   2. Health maintenance actions.
   3. Signs of normal infant behavior and health.

Complications During the Neonatal Period:

The High-Risk Newborn

1. General overview—successful newborn adaptation to the demands of independent extrauterine life may be complicated by environmental insults during the prenatal period or those arising in the period immediately surrounding birth. The nursing role focuses on minimizing the effect of present and emerging health problems and on facilitating and supporting a successful transition to extrauterine life.
2. General aspects—common neonatal risk factors:
   1. Gestational age profile (see Tables 4-14 and 4-16):
      1. Prematurity.
      2. Dysmaturity.
      3. Postmaturity.
   2. Congenital disorders.
   3. Birth trauma.
   4. Infections.

3. Disorders affecting protective functions: neonatal infections
   1. Assess for intrauterine infections.
   2. Oral thrush (mycotic stomatitis).
      1. Pathophysiology—local inflammation of oral mucosa due to fungal infection.
      2. Etiology:
         1. Organism—Candida albicans.
         2. More common in vulnerable newborn, i.e., sick, debilitated; those receiving antibiotic therapy.
      3. Mode of transmission—direct contact with:
         1. Maternal birth canal, hands, and linens.
         2. Contaminated feeding equipment, staff’s hands.
      4. Assessment
         1. White patches on oral mucosa, gums, and tongue that bleed when touched.
         2. Occasional difficulty swallowing.
      5. Analysis/nursing diagnosis:
         1. Pain related to irritation of oral mucous membrane secondary to oral moniliasis.
         2. Altered nutrition, less than body requirements related to irritability and poor feeding.
      6. Nursing care plan/implementation:
         Goal: prevent cross-contamination.
         1. Aseptic technique; good handwashing.
         2. Givemedications as ordered:
            1. Aqueous gentian violet, 1-2%: apply to infected area with swab.