A nurse is assessing a newborn's gestational age using the New Ballard Scale.

Which of the following signs would indicate prematurity?

Normal finding.

The anterior fontanelle is the soft spot on the top of an infant’s head that allows for brain growth and skull expansion.

It normally feels soft and flat when the infant is lying down, and may bulge slightly when the infant is sitting up or crying due to increased blood flow and pressure.

This is not a sign of any problem and should be documented as a normal finding.

Dehydration is wrong because dehydration would cause the fontanelle to feel sunken or depressed, not elevated. Dehydration can also cause other signs such as dry mouth, decreased urine output, and lethargy.

Increased intracranial pressure is wrong because increased intracranial pressure would cause the fontanelle to feel tense or bulging at all times, not only when sitting up or crying. Increased intracranial pressure can also cause other signs such as vomiting, irritability, seizures, and altered level of consciousness.

Infection is wrong because infection would cause the fontanelle to feel warm or tender, not elevated. Infection can also cause other signs such as fever, rash, poor feeding, and fussiness.

It helps identify potential developmental delays.The New Ballard Scale is 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 the New Ballard Scale does not determine the newborn’s nutritional needs.It only assesses the gestational maturity of the newborn based on physical and neuromuscular signs.

Choice B is wrong because the New Ballard Scale does not assess the baby’s cognitive development.It only estimates the gestational age of the newborn, which is the primary determinant of organ maturity.

Choice D is wrong because the New Ballard Scale does not measure the newborn’s respiratory function.It only evaluates the physical and neuromuscular characteristics of the newborn, such as skin texture, lanugo, plantar surface, breast tissue, eye/ear development and genitalia.