Question

A newborn male is estimated to be at 40 weeks of gestation following an assessment using the New Ballard scale. Which of the following would be a Ballard scale finding consistent with this newborn’s full-term status? (Select all that apply.)

Select one or more:

a. Popliteal angle of 160 degrees

b. Elbow does not pass midline when arm is pulled across the chest

c. Thinning of lanugo with some bald areas

d. A weight of 3200g, placing him at the 50th percentile

e. Apical pulse rate of 120 beats per minute, regular, and strong

f. Testes descended into the ball sac

Answer 1

Ballard scale is used to assess the gestational age of fetus. It used for fetus between the age of 26 to 44 week.

It consists of physical and neurological criteria. Physical criteria is based on the anatomical growth and changes of fetus while the neurological criteria involves muscle tone.

The neurological criteria involves posture, arm recoil, square window, popliteal angle, scarf sign, heel to ear.

The physical criteria involve changes in Skin, Ear/eye, Lanugo hair, Plantar surface, Breast, Genitals.

Popliteal angle of less than 90 is considered full term. An angle 160 gives 0 rating on ballard scale.

Measuring the elbow movement across chest is called scarf sign. If elbow does not pass the midline it is not considered full term baby.

Weight and apical pulse are not the criterias involved in Ballard scale.

Testes pendulous with deep rugae is considered full term.

Lanugo are thin hair that are found on the fetus body during intra uterine life. By birth these most of the hairs shed usually. Thinning of lanugo with some bald areas is a finding considered with full term newborn.