Maintaining Neonatal Normothermia during WHO Rec-ommended Skin-to-Skin Contact in the Setting of Cesarean Section under Regional Anesthesia

Silvia Stirparo, Alessio Farcomeni, Alessandro Laudani, Giorgio Capogna

Department of Anesthesiology, Città di Roma Hospital, Rome, Italy; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza Uni- versity, Rome, Italy..

DOI: 10.4236/ojanes.2013.33043                

Abstract

This study compared mothers’ and newborns’ temperatures (T) when the WHO recommended skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was practiced during cesarean section under regional anesthesia. 139 neonates were randomized to be left in their mothers’ arms warmed by a forced air warmer (SSC-FAW) or put in an incubator. Maternal and newborn rectal T was recorded immediately after birth, at 5, 10 and 15 minute intervals. Maternal and neonatal T was comparable between the groups. FAW is as effective as an incubator in preventing neonatal hypothermia while the mother is undergoing surgery in the operating room, while favouring SSC.

Keywords

Cesarean Section; Newborn; Temperature

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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