Research Critique of Study on Newborn Temperature Regulation

Thermoregulation is a critical physiologic function that is closely related to the transition and survival of the infant. An understanding of transitional events and the physiologic adaptations that neonates must make is essential to helping the nurse provide an appropriate environment and help infants maintain thermal stability.

The audience intended for this paper are mothers that have a desire to breastfeed, employers, clinicians, breastfeeding advocacy groups and federal and state legislators involved in policy change.

After the delivery, the heat from the mom’s body can warm the baby and maintains the baby’s body temperature. For instance, when nursing students were at the operating room at Saint Peter’s Hospital during the C-section delivery, as soon as the baby was out, the doctor placed the newborn on the mother’s chest. When the mother was alert and awake during the C-section made it possible for the baby to stay on her chest on the first hours after the birth. It was one of the most beautiful moments in life. Nevertheless, there was another C-section birth of diabetic mother. She was not fully awake during the C-section and the doctor only did not promote skin-to-skin mother and the newborn. The doctors and nurses at Saint Peter’s Hospital support and encourage skin-to-skin for mother and newborn right after the birth if there is no complication on mother or baby or when the condition is possible. Saint Peter’s Hospital has policy for vaginal delivery, “all infants that meet the criteria for initiate skin-to-skin care shall have skin-to-skin care implemented as the standard of care immediately after birth and as needed thereafter regardless of feeding preference”. They promote skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby immediately after delivery. However, mothers and babies have a physiologic need to be together during the minutes, hours, and days following birth, and this time together significantly improves maternal and newborn outcomes.

Skin to skin contact in the delivery room and breastfeeding are best for mothers and infant. Skin to skin contact helps mothers become confident with their infants, decreases the mother’s anxiety toward motherhood, helps produce more breast milk, and helps them become aware of their infant’s cues, not to mention an incredible lifelong bonding experience. As for the infant’s benefits of skin to skin contact, it helps with temperature regulation, stabilization of the heart rate, control of the infant’s blood sugar, and helps with weight gain. When initiating immediate skin to skin contact, infants should be placed on their mother’s chest for instinctive skills. The infant begins to smell their mother’s breast and look at their mother, which

DiGirolamo, A., Grummer-Strawn, L., & Fein, S. (2008). Effect of Maternity-Care Practices on Breastfeeding. Pediatrics , S43-S49.

Breastfeeding protects babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as sepsis in pre-term babies. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off infections like otitis media and respiratory problems like meningitis and bronchitis. It has been found to reduce the incidence and intensity of atopic diseases. Babies who breastfeed tend to suffer from colds less frequently and have fewer incidents of colic. (Davis)

Evidence proves that breast feeding healthy newborns skin to skin within the first hour of life can have a direct impact on decreasing hypothermia, hypoglycemia and increasing exclusivity then babies dried and swaddled.

Infant’s temperature is very important. After birth the nurse takes an infant’s temperature frequently to make sure it maintains accurately. When parents bring their infants home it needs to stay the same. In “Home Temperature for a New Baby” Dr.Iannelli states “that most experts recommend that you keep your home at a 'comfortable' temperature of between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit” (Iannelli, 2007,

The nutrients found in a mother’s breastmilk help the infant to grow healthier, as well as protecting it against some infections. This is one of the reasons that mothers know nursing their infants is best for them. However, even if it is the best for the infant, nursing mothers are still criticized for breastfeeding outside the privacy of their homes. From an early age, a woman has always been taught to cover every part of her body. Therefore, an exposed breast in public is often considered provocative or inappropriate even when used to breastfeed, although that is the breast’s function. Other objections to breastfeeding in public may be a reaction against perceived pressure on mothers to breastfeed at all costs.

Thesis: Breastfeeding provides unique nutrients for the baby, protects from disease, has health benefits for the mother, and provides a unique bond between mother and baby.

I chose to do my project on breastfeeding promotion in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because of two reasons. The first reason is because after graduation I plan to work in the NICU. The second reason I chose the topic is because my nephew was born premature and he was in the NICU. During that time, I watched my sister struggle with providing breastmilk for him. Even though it was something she really wanted to do there was just too many barriers that stood in her way. Unfortunately, she ended up giving up on breastfeeding after a few weeks.

Along with the New York Times, The Guardian agrees in the notion that breastfeeding, “helps protect infants from infection and other diseases,” such as gastrointestinal infections, respiratory tract infections, asthma, and middle ear infections(guardian)(137) Nutrient needs are arguably the most important thing an infant can have, another being maternal influences. The Lifespan Development book agrees with both online articles in that “the importance of receiving adequate energy intake and nutrients in a loving and supportive environment cannot be overstated.”(137) Breastfeeding gives infants the nutrients they need to survive and protect their bodies until they are of age and are able to receive nutrients from other sources of

Research subjects were homogeneous in term of demographic information of mothers (age, educational level, employment, parity, abortion, still birth, and delivery method), and thus there was no significant between-groups difference in his regard. Research subjects were also homogeneous in terms of demographic information of infants (gender, gestational age, infant's age at the time of sampling, head circumference, the 1st and 5th minutes APGAR scores, birth weight, weight at the time of sampling, cause of hospitalization), and thus there was no significant between-groups difference in this regard.

We explored the bond created between mother and child, the health benefits for babies, and the many ways in which a mother benefits from breastfeeding.

162 mothers and 100 partners or coaches from 22 breastfeeding classes held over a one-year period