DEVELOPMENT OF NEONATAL ELECTROLYTE HOMEOSTASIS

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Abstract
A study was made of the development of chemical homeostasis in the newborn infant. In a series of 43 essentially healthy, full term, newborn infants, serial determinations during the first day of life of blood pH, plasma CO2, chloride and total base content, and serum protein were made. Comparison with similar data on premature infants and adults is presented. Most full term infants at birth are in a state of metabolic acidosis with a lowered blood pH and plasma CO2 content, but have essentially normal plasma chlorides and total base values. The majority of these infants within a few hours have a blood pH of adult level but maintain for some time a lowered CO2 content.