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.