Maintaining Neonatal Normothermia during WHO Rec-ommended Skin-to-Skin Contact in the Setting of Cesarean Section under Regional Anesthesia

Silvia Stirparo,Giorgio Capogna,Alessio Farcomeni,Alessandro Laudani

doi:10.4236/ojanes.2013.33043

Abstract

This study compared mothers’ and newborns’ temperatures (T) when the WHO recommended skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was practiced during cesarean section under regional anesthesia. 139 neonates were randomized to be left in their mothers’ arms warmed by a forced air warmer (SSC-FAW) or put in an incubator. Maternal and newborn rectal T was recorded immediately after birth, at 5, 10 and 15 minute intervals. Maternal and neonatal T was comparable between the groups. FAW is as effective as an incubator in preventing neonatal hypothermia while the mother is undergoing surgery in the operating room, while favouring SSC.

Highlights

In the past the very act of holding the baby, newly born and still undressed, on the chest of the mother was essential to the survival of the newborn, and to this day many mothers still continue this practice
forced air warmer (FAW) is as effective as an incubator in preventing neonatal hypothermia while the mother is undergoing surgery in the operating room, while favouring skin-to-skin contact (SSC)
In order to let the mothers to have SSC immediately after delivery, we aimed to introduce the use of a forced air warmer to keep the newborn temperature in normal range during this procedure

Summary

Introduction

In the past the very act of holding the baby, newly born and still undressed, on the chest of the mother was essential to the survival of the newborn, and to this day many mothers still continue this practice It is the norm in most industrialised societies to give birth in hospital, disrupting this instinctive gesture by having the baby taken away and clothed prior to being given back to their mothers. One can imagine that this period of separation is extended in the case of cesarean section, essentially an operation performed in cooled, sterile surroundings These disruptions of early mother-infant interactions may in reality have a detrimental effect. The WHO recommends maternal-neonatal skin-to-skin contact (SSC) for all newborns, regardless of their clinical condition, birth weight and gestational age 1 This intervention may be a critical component for successful breastfeeding initiation, favours early motherchild bonding and possibly has positive effects on excessive infant crying. It may promote reduced cardiopulmonary instability 2 , and as far as the research shows is safe both in the short and long term

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Methods

Conclusion