I examined the literature on swaddling for Breastfeeding Answers Made 
Simple (see pp. 69-70).  I also wrote an article, "Rethinking 
Swaddling," which was published in September in the International 
Journal of Childbirth Education and cites the studies that found 
swaddled newborns have lower body temperatures than newborns kept S2S 
and swaddling results in less effective suckling and later establishment 
of breastfeeding.  It is the lead article at the following link: 
http://www.icea.org/sites/default/files/09-10%20%28Reduced%29.pdf

Regarding S2S and thermoregulation at birth, see also: Galligan, M.  
(2006) Proposed guidelines for skin-to-skin treatment of neonatal 
hypothermia.  MCN 31(5):298-304.

The following study also found skin-to-skin contact more effective at 
regulating body temperature in preterm babies than incubators:  Bergman, 
N, et al.  (2004).  Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact 
from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization 
in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns.  Acta Paediatrica, 93(6), 779-785.

Warm regards,

Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA
Lactation Consultant, Ameda Breastfeeding Products
from the Chicago area, where after about 20 inches of snow fell last 
night, we are expected temperatures of -30 degrees F tonight 
(br-r-r-r-r!)Kelly writes:
> Kelly writes:
> I am also charged with rewritting our thermoregulation policy. We have submitted our S2S policy but we do have a nurse that keeps asking me about instead of skin to skin or using a radiant warmer why can't we just use swaddling to help the newborn thermoregulate. I told her that I could not find any research to back that practice right after birth. Does anyone have any evidence that support swaddling as a way to initiate thermoregulation after birth? I do not want to seperate our mommies and our babies but after skin to skin we have always used a radiant warmer to thermoreguate (if needed and temp is not climbing)and once temp is stable swaddle. I would love to initiate a study to try swaddling instead of a radiant warmer but need a least one study that supports this as a method of thermoregulation at birth .

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