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Reducing discomfort while measuring crown-heel length in neonates
Luis Pereira-Da-Silva1, Kim I M Bergmans, Lieke A S van Kerkhoven
1Hospital Dona Estefânia Maternity, Lisbon, Portugal. l.pereira.silva@netcabo.pt
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 7, 2006
Summary
Neonatal length measurement causes distress. Extending only one lower limb during measurement reduces infant discomfort compared to extending both, without impacting accuracy. This finding aids in optimizing infant care practices.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric anthropometry
Background:
- Accurate measurement of crown-heel length is crucial for assessing neonatal growth and development.
- Standard measurement techniques may cause discomfort to newborns, necessitating an evaluation of procedural impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the level of discomfort experienced by neonates during crown-heel length measurements.
- To compare discomfort levels associated with extending one versus both lower limbs during measurement.
- To assess the impact of limb extension method on measurement accuracy and reliability.
Main Methods:
- Healthy, full-term neonates were studied within the first 32 hours after birth.
- Crown-heel length was measured using a neonatometer with one or both lower limbs extended.
- The Neonatal Facial Coding System assessed infant discomfort during the length measurement procedures.
Main Results:
- Length measurements significantly increased discomfort scores compared to baseline in all neonates.
- Extending both lower limbs resulted in significantly higher discomfort scores than extending only one limb (p < 0.006).
- Length measurements were slightly greater with one limb extended, but this difference diminished over time, with high correlation (r = 0.98) at 32 hours.
Conclusions:
- Crown-heel length measurement is inherently distressing for neonates.
- Measuring length with one lower limb extended minimizes infant discomfort.
- This method maintains measurement accuracy, offering a more humane approach to neonatal anthropometry.