Taking your baby's measurements at home can be tricky. And it's not required – you can always wait for the next doctor visit to see how your baby is growing. But some parents like to track their baby's length, weight, and head circumference between visits. Here's how to measure your baby. Show
At every doctor visit, your baby's healthcare provider will take their measurements and plot them on their growth chart. Because an inch or a pound can make a pretty significant difference in where your baby falls on the charts, your child is measured very carefully. It can be tricky to get reliable and accurate numbers – especially if your baby is very squirmy – but medical staff are experienced at this. You can also take your baby's measurements at home, though doing it yourself may not be as accurate as when a doctor, nurse, or medical assistant does it. However, sometimes parents pick up on mistakes made at the doctor's office or catch growth problems sooner. Once you have your baby's measurements, plug them into our growth percentile calculator to find out roughly how your baby compares with other babies the same age. How to measure head circumferenceTo measure your baby's head, a doctor or member of their medical staff places a flexible measuring tape where your baby's head has the largest circumference – just above the eyebrows and ears, and around the back of the head where it slopes up prominently from the neck. Why does the size of your baby's head matter? Because the size of their skull reflects the growth of their brain. So if a baby's brain isn't growing and developing normally, their head circumference may not be increasing as it should. On the other hand, if the skull grows too quickly, it could be a sign of a problem like hydrocephalus (the buildup of fluid in the brain). Both conditions are unlikely, but important to rule out. By the way, babies' heads are disproportionately large compared to adults' heads, so don't worry if your baby's head looks big to you. Consider your own proportions, too: If you or your partner has a large or small head, your baby might, too. To measure your baby's head circumference at home:
How to measure your baby's weightAt the doctor's office, you undress your baby completely – that's right, no diaper – and a staff member places them on a scale. Weight is measured in pounds to the closest ounce or in kilograms to the nearest tenth of a kilo. To measure your baby's weight at home:
How to measure your baby's length (height)While your child is lying down, a doctor, nurse, or medical assistant measures them from the top of their head to the bottom of their heel. Some doctors use a special device with a headboard and a movable footboard for more accurate results. To measure your baby's length at home:
NHA CCMA Practice Test Questions and Answers(2022/2023) A patient asks a medical assistant to explain the difference between a liniment and a medicated lotion. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans- liniments contain a higher portion of oil than medicated lotions A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who recently received a terminal diagnosis. The patient states, "I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, I won't be able to accomplish what I wanted to do with my life. "The assistant should identify that the patient is in which of the following stages of grief? Ans- Depression A medical assistant is collecting a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits moderate hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Remain within the patient's view to allow lip-reading A medical assistant is obtaining a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? Ans- Place the stethoscope's diaphragm over the patient's palpitated artery A medical assistant is measuring a patient's oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Check capillary refill in the patient's finger A provider prescribed oxycodone for a patient after abdominal surgery. Which of the following described this type of medication? Ans- Oxycodone is a schedule 2 controlled substance and has a high potential for abuse A medical assistant is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. Which of the following items should be in the sterile field for this procedure? Ans- Hemostat A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has a bilateral below-the-knee amputations for an EKG. Which of the following sites should the assistant select for the electrode placement? Ans- Abdomen A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patients leg. Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the medication from the jar? Ans- A tongue blade Which of the following action should a medical assistant take when obtaining the head circumference of an infant?Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take when obtaining the head circumference of an infant? Record the measurement to the nearest 0.6 cm (1/4 in).
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length?Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit? Position the infant on his back. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching about a cardiac event monitor with a patient.
Which of the following actions should the Assistant take before collecting the patients blood?What following action should the assistant take before collecting the patient's blood? Make sure the patient did not eat any food for the past 12 hr.
When using a centrifuge a medical assistant must do the following to ensure safety and accuracy?When using the centrifuge, a medical assistant must do which of the following to ensure safety and accuracy? Cap the tubes to avoid emission of aerosols. The assistant should ensure the tubes are capped to prevent the emission of aerosols. You just studied 20 terms!
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