Changes in newborn vital signs is evidenced immediately after birth. This is because, the baby is no longer confined in the utero and he or she has to try to adapt to the changing environment.  The newborn temperature regulating system is also very immature, hence it is unable to regulate the body temperature as required. Temperatures of the newborns ranges in between 36.5° to 37.2° centigrade or 97.5° to 99°F but it usually falls below normal levels immediately after birth.

 

Newborns lose heat through various ways; convection, evaporation, conduction and radiation. In convection, the heat is lost by transfering it to a cooler sorrounding air, such as, when using an air conditioner in a room. In evaporation, the heat is lost through conversion of liquid to vapor. This can happens if the child is not dried immediately, especially on the face and head after a bath.

In conduction, the head is lost when the baby comes into contact with a cooler contact, such as, when a baby is placed on a cold surface during changing. In radiation, heat is lost by transfering it to a cooler object that does not comes into contact with the baby, such as, when a baby is placed near a window. 
 

Newborn Pulse

The fetal heart rate during intrauterine life ranges in between 120 to 160 bpm but it rises further up to 180 bpm immediately after birth as the baby struggles to initiate breathing. The heart rate usually settles after one hour or so after birth, averaging around 120-140 bpm and inbetween 90 -110 bpm when the baby is asleep. Heart rate also tend to be slightly irregular due to immature cardiac regulatory system.

 

Newborn Respiratory Rate

A few minutes after birth, the respiratory rate can be as high as 80 breaths per minutes but it eventually settles down, averaging inbetween 30-60 breaths per minute when the baby is at rest.  You can easily count the respiratory rate by looking at the baby abdomen, since babies use diaphragm and abdominal muscles to breath. Short period of apnea without cynosis (bluish discoloration of skin) are considered normal and a newborn respiratory rate, depth and rhythm may sometimes be irregular.

 

Newborn Blood Pressure

The newborn blood pressure immediately after birth ranges in between 65 mmHg to 80 mmHg (systolic) with diastolic ranging inbetween 46 mmHg to 41 mmHg and it raises again to around 100/50 mmHg after 10 days. Blood pressure taking is rarely done in newborns, since the measurements tend to be very inacurate. It is mostly done on babies born with heart anomalies or if a doctor suspect a cardiac problem.

 

How to Prevent Drastic Changes in Newborn Vital Signs