Thermoregulation

why are premature babies more at risk for heat loss?

Premature and low-birthweight babies usually have little body fat and may be too immature to regulate their own temperature, even in a warm environment.

what are the two factors the limit heat production?

amount of brown fat

availability of glycogen in the liver

what is the primary function of brown fat

heat production in newborns that can not shiver

what are some indicators of poor thermoregulation

poor feedings

lethargy

irritability

weak cry

weak suck

poor muscle tone

cool skin temp

hypoglycemia

respiratory distress

Risk factors that increase preterm heat loss

THINNER MORE PERMEABLE SKIN

high ratio of body surface area

posture

little SUBQ fat

decreased ability yo vasoconstrict

what benefits does kangaroo care offer

a method of providing skin to skin contact between the infant and parent that helps with bonding

it improves breast feeding

decreases the length of stay in the NICU

improves physiological stability

What is kangaroo care?

a method of caring for premature babies in which the infants are held skin-to-skin with a parent, usually the mother, for as many hours as possible every day.

what are the types of heat loss

convention

conduction

radiation

evaporation

convention heat loss

heat loss due to air flow

Conduction heat loss

heat loss by touching something else

evaporation heat loss

Loss of heat as surface liquid is converted to vapor

Radiation heat loss

is the loss of heat from the body surface to COOLER SOLID SURFACES NOT in direct contact but in relative proximity