Neonatal hypothermia is a preventable condition that affects newborns up to 28 days after birth, often causing death in developing countries. Low birth weight, premature birth, and cold environments increase the risk. Adequate warmth and avoiding bathing newborns immediately after birth can prevent hypothermia.
Neonatal hypothermia is a preventable condition that affects newborns up to 28 days after birth. It occurs when their body temperature drops below 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 degrees Celsius). This condition often causes the death of newborns in developing countries. Doctors treat hypothermia by warming the baby.
Babies with low birth weight are at high risk of developing neonatal hypothermia. Premature babies or babies whose mothers have had multiple pregnancies in the past are often low birth weight. Babies born during the winter months or in cold delivery rooms are also at risk.
Underweight babies don’t have enough surface fat or brown fat at birth. Brown fat is found around the neck, upper chest and armpits, as well as the upper back. The blood that passes through these areas becomes warm, and the heated blood travels throughout the rest of the body.
Babies lose body heat rapidly when they are born. They are exposed to cold drafts and cold solid objects such as tables and medical instruments. They also lose heat through evaporation as their amniotic fluid dries up. Without adequate brown fat, their bodies are unable to regulate their internal temperature.
The severity of neonatal hypothermia varies depending on the baby’s body temperature. Infants with moderate hypothermia have a body temperature of 89.6-98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (32-36 degrees Celsius). Temperatures below this range indicate severe hypothermia.
Doctors can determine if a child has hypothermia by taking their temperature. They can also determine hypothermia by touch. Babies who have warm feet are usually fine, but cold torsos and cold feet could indicate neonatal hypothermia.
Children might also show other symptoms. They may have difficulty breathing or may seem to lack energy. Some babies refuse to eat and some don’t gain weight as they should.
Untreated hypothermia sometimes leads to serious long-term complications. Children could develop hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar. Some children experience pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding from the lungs. Severe hypothermia can cause infant mortality.
Keeping the delivery room warm, drying the baby immediately after delivery, keeping the baby’s head covered, and keeping the baby close to the mother will minimize the likelihood of neonatal hypothermia. Babies should not be bathed immediately after birth, particularly if they were born during the winter months. Those who are low birth weight should not be bathed until they reach a healthy weight.
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