The effect of timing of initial bath on newborn's temperature.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of the early timing of an initial bath on newborn temperature.

DESIGN

Random assignment to group, comparative study.

SETTING

Newborn nursery of a 20-bed obstetric unit in a regional hospital in the Midwest.

PATIENTS

80 healthy, full-term newborns.

INTERVENTIONS

40 neonates were bathed at 1 hour of age and 40 were bathed at 2 hours of age.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Axillary temperatures were measured before the admission bath and at 10, 20, and 60 minutes after the bath with disposable thermometers; the maximum drop in temperature also was determined.

RESULTS

No significant differences were noted in axillary temperatures between the two groups before the bath or at 10, 20, or 60 minutes after the bath. The groups did not differ significantly by gender, birth weight, length of bath in minutes, room temperature during bath, Apgar score at 5 minutes, or gestational age.

CONCLUSION

Healthy full-term newborns with an axillary temperature > or = 36.8 degrees C (98.2 degrees F) can be bathed after 1 hour of age when appropriate care is taken to support thermal stability.