A newborn's first bath: when?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of early admission bathing on thermoregulation in newborns.


METHODS
Randomized, comparative study.


METHODS
A regional hospital providing primary and secondary newborn care.


METHODS
One hundred healthy, full-term newborns.


METHODS
Newborns in the investigational group with a minimum rectal temperature of 36.5 degrees C. were bathed after the newborn admission assessment examination was completed (M = 61.15 minutes of age), whereas newborns in the control group were bathed at the standard of 4 hours of age (M = 252.12 minutes of age).


METHODS
Rectal temperatures were measured using a Diatek thermometer. Rectal temperatures were recorded during the newborn admission assessment examination, immediately before bathing, immediately after bathing, 1 hour after bathing, and 2 hours after bathing.


RESULTS
No significant differences (p < .05) in rectal temperatures, were found between the groups during the admission assessment examination, before bathing, immediately after bathing, 1 hour after bathing, or 2 hours after bathing. No significant differences were found between the groups in type of delivery, time of birth, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, air temperature, apical heart rate, or respiratory rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthy, full-term newborns whose rectal temperatures are greater than 36.5 degrees C can be bathed immediately after the admission assessment examination.
Penny-MacGillivray
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Maternal-Child Unit, St. Martha's Regional Hospital, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001494:Baths; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors