A newborn has difficulty breathing and experiences severe coughing spells during breastfeeding. The newborn is diagnosed with a tracheoesophageal fistula. Without proper management, the newborn is most likely to lose which reflex?

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Without proper management, a newborn with a tracheoesophageal fistula is most likely to lose the sucking reflex. The sucking reflex is characterized by sucking motion of the lips when the lips are touched. It can disappear immediately if it is never stimulated. Because newborns with TEF are not allowed to take anything by mouth until the abnormality is corrected, their sucking reflex may be insufficiently stimulated. The nurse midwife can maintain the sucking reflex by offering the newborn non-nutritive sucking objects after the surgery.

A Newborn Has Difficulty Breathing and Experiences Severe Coughing Spells