A client is concerned about the physical characteristics of their late pre-term newborn.

What might the nurse explain about their appearance?

The neuromuscular maturity test on a newborn using the New Ballard Scale evaluates the flexion in different positions.The test is a scale that estimates the gestational age of a newborn infant based on physical and neuromuscular characteristics.The test 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.

Choice A is wrong because skin thickness and appearance are part of the physical maturity score, not the neuromuscular maturity score.

Choice B is wrong because presence of lanugo and breast buds are also part of the physical maturity score, not the neuromuscular maturity score.

Choice D is wrong because creases on the bottom of feet are another part of the physical maturity score, not the neuromuscular maturity score.

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.