Maintaining a optimal thermal temperature is one of
the key physiologic challenges a newborn faces
immediately at birth. After birth, the newly born
infant is suddenly exposed to a wet and cold
environment. However, they are unable to exhibit
normal thermal regulatory mechanism. Hence, the
newborn may experience hypothermia and cold
stress, in the absence of thermal protection.
Neonatal hypothermia is defined as an abnormal
thermal state in which the newborn’s body
temperature drops below 36.5◦C. Progressive
reduction in body temperature can result in a variety
of physiologic stresses such as increased oxygen
consumption, deceased cardiac output, metabolic
acidosis and hypoglycemia.
It is known that newborn lost considerably body
heat due to evaporation of amniotic fluid from the
baby’s body. Thus, it is critical to ensure that
newborn infants are thoroughly wiped, dried and
covered to prevent heat loss through evaporation of
the amniotic fluid. Proper wiping and drying was
found to prevent significant drops in temperature in
the first 2 hour after birth. Other methods use to
prevent heat loss include the use of infant caps and
skin-to-skin contact with mothers immediately after
birth.
Introduction
Our primary aim was to prevent heat loss for
newborn immediately after birth. The wearing of
infant cap immediately after birth can prevent
hypothermia in newborn and in this way the well-
being of the newborn will be protected.
Neonatal hypothermia can be easily prevented with
the implementation of a simple, inexpensive but
important step by wearing of a cap immediately
after birth. Besides preventing incidences of
hypothermia, promotion of an infant’s neutral
thermal environment can also lead to important
improvement in their clinical outcomes.
Lee, B.Y., Teo, C.C., & Ng, G.N.
Organization: KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital
Heat Loss Prevention in Newborns:
Wearing of infant cap immediately after birth
Aim
Methodology
Project Solution
Result
Conclusion
Various types of infant cap were sourced. After the
trail, the team have decided on the use of stockinette
to make it into an infant cap. All newborns were dried
thoroughly immediately after birth and the infant cap
was put on. The infant cap were put on for the
newborn for their first 3-4 hour of life.
Step 1:
A roll of stockinette The
material is soft and gentle
to the skin
Step 2:
The stockinette is unrolled
and cut into 50cm stripes
Step 3:
It is then folded into a infant
cap
Step 4:
The finished product :
Infant Cap
The implementation of wearing infant cap for all
newborns immediately after birth had kept the infant
dry and warm. There were no reported case of
neonatal hypothermia since the initiation. The
outcome was similar with a study by Roberts et al
who found that the use of a stockinet cap had led to
improvement in core body temperature in infants less
than 2000g at birth. In addition, the new initiative was
also well received by staffs and parents.
