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The mother as incubator-after delivery
JOGN Nursing; Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing
|May 1, 1979
Summary
Immediate skin-to-skin contact with mothers effectively maintains newborn body temperature. This practice prevents chilling, ensuring infant well-being without the need for heated beds post-delivery.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Infant thermoregulation
Background:
- Maintaining stable body temperature in newborns is crucial for infant health.
- Concerns exist regarding potential heat loss in infants during immediate postpartum contact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the body temperature regulation of newborns held skin-to-skin with their mothers versus those in heated beds.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of immediate maternal-infant contact for preventing neonatal hypothermia.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 10 nude infants held by mothers and 9 infants in heated beds.
- Body temperature measurements were taken after 15 minutes for both infant groups.
Main Results:
- Both groups of infants achieved an average temperature of 98.1°F after 15 minutes.
- This temperature was significantly above the minimum acceptable threshold of 96.9°F, indicating effective thermoregulation in both conditions.
Conclusions:
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns is a safe and effective method for maintaining infant body temperature.
- Healthcare providers can permit immediate maternal-infant holding without fear of infant chilling.