NRS-434VN Health Assessment Full Course GCU – assignmenthandlers

 

The presented nine-month-old girl’s head circumference is 43 cm, which is typically the average head measurement for girls, according to the CDC. The CDC estimates that girls’ average head circumference at this age is 43.83 centimeters (Miles, 2022). “The average length for a nine-month-old is 27.6 inches for girls, according to the World Health Organization” (The Bump Editors, 2017, para 4). The presented 9-month-old girl’s length is 68.5 cm, which is below average. Lastly, the weight of the nine-month-old girl is 6.75 kg, compared to the average weight of 18.1 pounds for girls (The Bump Editors, 2017).

In terms of growth, babies develop at a phenomenal rate. In fact, at month nine, the baby typically grows alarmingly. Miles (2022) stated that most infants see a noticeable increase in weight throughout the third trimester. The 9-month-old presented in this discussion is developing slower than the average newborn, weight- and length-wise. The nurse should advise the mother to continue breastfeeding or using formula but to introduce baby food if she has not already started. The mother “can expand her baby’s diet to include soft foods such as yogurt, oatmeal, mashed banana, mashed potatoes, or even thicker or lumpy pureed vegetables” (AAP, 2022, para 2). “Eggs (including scrambled) are an excellent source of protein, as are cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and avocado” (AAP, 2022, para 2). Let the baby get plenty of rest. Have her child examined by her primary care provider once a month to monitor growth and development and to learn about proper weaning techniques.

For healthcare providers to spot newborns at risk for delay, they must correctly identify the developmental milestones. There is a wide variety of evidence-based screening methods available to help healthcare providers determine whether newborns are on track to fulfill developmental milestones or are at risk for delays. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made a list of evaluation checkpoints that doctors and nurses can use as a basis by the end of a 9-month-old’s evaluation. This includes the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, the Child Development Inventory, and the Parent’s Evaluation of Developmental Status (CDC, 2022). These trackers come in digital milestone tracker mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, and one can use the digital online checklist or print the checklist sheet (CDC, 2022). For social/emotional milestones, the CDC states that a nine-month-old should be able to show expressions such as clinginess, happiness, anger, sadness, shyness, and fear around unfamiliar faces; be able to look when their names are mentioned, react to being left behind, like crying or reaching out for their guardian; and smile or giggle when playing pee-a-boo with them (CDC, 2022).

In the cognitive milestones, such as thinking, problem-solving, and learning, a 9-month-old should be able to bang two objects together and seek toys or any item when dropped or hidden out of sight (CDC, 2022). For language and communication, a nine-month-old should be able to lift their arms as an indication to be lifted up and make sounds like “babababa” or “mamamama” (CDC, 2022, para 4). For the physical/movement milestones, a nine-month-old is expected to be able to move objects from one hand to the other, get into a sitting position without help or support, and use their fingers to “rake” food towards them (CDC, 2022).

Per the CDC, parents are their baby’s first teachers (CDC, 2022). It is crucial for parents to be familiar with the developmental milestones of their child/children. With this knowledge, it is easier for parents to include these activities in their babies’ daily routines and become aware of any unfulfilled milestones that need to be addressed with their healthcare experts.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022, August 12). Sample menu for a baby 8 to 12 months old. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/sample-one-day-menu-for-an-8-to-12-month-old.aspx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 5). What developmental milestones is your 9-month-old reaching? https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-9mo.html

Miles, K. (2022, April 7). Average newborn head circumference. BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/baby/baby-development/baby-head-circumference_40009394

The Bump Editors. (2017, June 19). 9-Month-Old baby – Baby month by month. TheBump.com – Pregnancy, Parenting and Baby Information. https://www.thebump.com/baby-month-by-month/9-month-old-bab