Neonatal Thermoregulations Flashcards
Why is neonatal thermoregulation important?
Is a vital function required immediately after birth
This is because the surface area of the newborn baby is large in proportion to its body mass → , therefore, loses heat quickly
The neonate can’t generate heat by shivering.
Keeping baby warm from birth will allow diagnosis of infection if the temperature would still be low or high.
What is the normal range of temp for a neonate?
36.5-37.5°C
If heat gain is greater than heat loss it is?
Hyperthermia
If heat loss is greater than heat gain it is?
Hypothermia
Maternal temperature increases by?
0.5
What role do the placenta and amniotic fluid have on regulating temperature?
The placenta does not regulate temperature
The amniotic fluid allows heat from the fetus to diffuse to maintain the temperature
What temperature should the birth room be?
25
What changes in temperature if the baby is SGA or preterm?
Lower gestation → lower birth weight → an increase surface area to volume ratio.
What is evaporation?
if born in a warm room the amniotic fluid on their body will evaporate and in this process, the baby is using energy. This will cause rapid heat loss.
What is convection?
cold air → will mean that the baby will lose heat. Any cool current of air passing over a partly dressed neonate will remove the warm air close to their skin.
What is conduction?
Touching surfaces so skin-to-skin will regulate body temperatures
When the baby is born make sure you keep them in warm towels and then skin to skin with either parent to regulate temperatures. When weighing the baby also keep warm towels on the scales.
What is radiation?
Having the baby under a radiated heater the heat will go into the baby increasing their temperature.
How does the neonate produce heat?
Metabolic activity
Crying: reflect if the baby is cold if they are unsettled. For the neonate, crying generated heat
Hyperactive:
Jitteriness: last queue. Movement of hands and feet. To see the difference between jittering and a fitting
What is brown adipose tissue (BAT)?
From 26 weeks
Mitochondria
BAT increases with gestation. A baby that is 40-41 week gestation has a high amount of BAT than a 36,37-week baby.
What does care of the baby in terms of temperature involve?
Dry the baby
Skin to skin contact
Behaviour: Baby’s behaviour can show you that they feel cold
Note temperature
Feeding history → hasn’t fed on reflection after being born
Wrapping and swaddling - no swaddles so baby can’t regulate its own temperature. Baby moves arms up or down their blanket
Baths: until a baby is able to maintain temperature do not bath the baby. Depending on gestation
