Subject: skin-to-skin and low rectal temp.

I just wanted to repost Karen Gromada's reference to the following article
re skin to skin and temp stability. When you read "kangaroo care", think
STS. That's what it means, essentially, for the period of time referenced
(also means exclusive BF and no separation from mother). You'll see that STS
did increase baby's temp:

*Kangaroo Care at Birth for Full Term Infants: A Pilot Study.*
MCN, American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. 32(6):375-381,
November/December 2007.
*WALTERS, MARY W. MS, RN; BOGGS, KIM M. MSN, RN, BC; LUDINGTON-HOE, SUSAN
PHD, CNM, FAAN; PRICE, KIMBERLY M. RN, IBCLC; MORRISON, BARBARA PHD, FNP,
CNM*

*Abstract:*
"Purpose: To determine whether breastfeeding behaviors, skin temperature,
and blood glucose values could be influenced through the use of kangaroo
care at the time of birth in healthy full term infants.

Method: Descriptive study with nine full term neonates given kangaroo care
beginning within 1 minute of birth and continuing until completion of the
first breastfeeding by mothers who intended to breastfeed. Infant skin
temperature was taken at 1 and 5 minutes after birth and every 15 minutes
thereafter. Blood glucose level was taken 60 minutes after birth, the time
at which the infant latched onto the breast was recorded, and breastfeeding
behaviors were observed during the first breastfeeding.

Results: Skin temperature rose during birth kangaroo care in eight of the
nine infants, and temperature remained within neutral thermal zone for all
infants. Blood glucose levels varied between 43 and 85 mg/dL for infants who
had not already fed and between 43 and 118 mg/dL for those who had fed. All
but one infant spontaneously crawled to and latched onto a breast by 74
minutes after birth. Physicians noted that mothers were distracted from
episiotomy or laceration repair discomfort during birth kangaroo care.
Clinical Implications: In this institution, birth kangaroo care was
integrated into routine delivery room care, with nurses noting no change in
nursing workload. Nurses have noted observing the crawling, latching, and
successful breastfeeding of most infants. Because of the results of this
pilot study, birth kangaroo care has been implemented successfully with all
women who wish to participate."

Marie Farver

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