Newborn skin temperature two days postpartum during breastfeeding related to different labour ward practices

• Aim: To investigate (1) the skin temperature pattern in newborns two days after birth in connection to breastfeeding and to examine (2) if the administration of epidural analgesia (EDA) and oxytocin (OT) infusion during labour influences this parameter at this point of time. Method: Forty-seven mother-infant pairs were included in the study: nine mothers had received OT stimulation during labour (OT group), 20 mothers had received an EDA and OT during labour (EDA group), while 18 mothers had received neither EDA nor OT stimulation during labour (control group). A skin temperature electrode was attached between the newborn's shoulder blades. The newborn was placed skin-to-skin on the mother's chest and covered with a blanket. The temperature was recorded immediately after the newborn was put on the mother's chest and at 5, 10, 20 and 30 min. Results: The temperature measured when the newborns were put skin-to-skin on their mothers' chest was significantly higher in the infants of the EDA group (35.07 °C) when compared to the control group (34.19 °C, p = 0.025). Skin temperature increased significantly (p = 0.001) during the entire experimental period in the infants belonging to the control group. The same response was observed in infants whose mothers received OT intravenously during labour (p = 0.008). No such rise was observed in infants whose mothers were given an EDA during labour. Conclusion: The results show that the skin temperature in newborns rises when newborns are put skin-to-skin to breastfeed two days postpartum. This effect on temperature may be hampered by medical interventions during labour such as EDA. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Breastfeeding

EDA

Oxytocin

Skin-to-skin contact

Temperature

article

breast feeding education

clinical article

controlled study

delivery room

electrode

epidural anesthesia

female

human

mother child relation

puerperium

skin temperature

Adult

Breast Feeding

Hospitals

Maternity

Humans

Infant

Newborn

Labor

Obstetric

Maternal Behavior

Oxytocics

Postpartum Period

Pregnancy

Regression Analysis

Sucking Behavior

Touch

Medical sciences

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