A nurse is using the New Ballard Scale to assess a newborn and observes well-developed breast buds, creases on the bottom of feet, and no lanugo.

How would the nurse categorize the gestational age of this baby?

It determines the gestational age and identifies developmental risks.TheNew Ballard Scaleis a scale that estimates the gestational age of a newborn infant based on physical and neuromuscular characteristics.The scale can be used when there is no reliable obstetrical information or a major discrepancy between the estimated date of delivery and the infant’s appearance.The scale is accurate only within plus or minus 2 weeks and can be used up to 4 days after birth, but usually within the first 24 hours.The scale has been refined and expanded to include extremely premature neonates.

Choice A is wrong because it assesses the newborn’s cognitive development.The New Ballard Scale does not measure cognitive development, but rather physical and neuromuscular maturity.

Choice B is wrong because it evaluates the baby’s physical strength and coordination.The New Ballard Scale does not measure strength and coordination, but rather physical characteristics such as skin, lanugo, plantar surface, breast, eye/ear, and genitals, and neuromuscular characteristics such as posture, square window, arm recoil, popliteal angle, scarf sign, and heel to ear.

Choice C is wrong because it measures the newborn’s respiratory maturity.The New Ballard Scale does not measure respiratory maturity, but rather gestational age based on physical and neuromuscular criteria.

According to the New Ballard Score, a newborn with well-developed breast buds, creases on the bottom of feet, and no lanugo has a total physical maturity score of 40, which corresponds to a gestational age of 40 weeks.

This is within the normal range of 37 to 42 weeks for a full-term baby.

Choice B. Pre-term is wrong because a pre-term baby has a gestational age of less than 37 weeks and would have immature physical characteristics such as sticky or transparent skin, no creases on the feet, and abundant lanugo.

Choice C. Late pre-term is wrong because a late pre-term baby has a gestational age of 34 to 36 weeks and would have less developed physical characteristics such as smooth pink skin, faint red marks on the feet, and thinning lanugo.

Choice D. Post-term is wrong because a post-term baby has a gestational age of more than 42 weeks and would have more advanced physical characteristics such as cracking or leathery skin, no lanugo, and pendulous testes or large labia majora.