children s health issues
Physical Examination of a Newborn
Heart and Lungs
(See also Overview of Heart Defects .) A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs to detect any abnormality. Abnormal heart or lung sounds may be a heart murmur or lung congestion. The newborn's skin color is examined. A blue color of the face and torso may be a sign of congenital heart or lung disease. The rate and strength of the pulse is checked. The newborn's breathing is observed, and the number of breaths in a minute is counted. Grunting and/or flaring nostrils with breathing and breathing too fast or too slow can be signs of problems. 