First bathing time of newborn infants after birth: A comparative analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The study was designed as an experimental study to describe the effect of the first bathing time on the body temperature and skin moisture of a newborn after birth.Design and Methods: The study population consisted of term newborns between JanuaryThe sample group was randomly divided into two groups according to different bathing times. The first group (39 infants) was given a bath 24 hr after birth, and the second group (34 infants) was given a bath 48 hr after birth. The infants in both the groups were dried with the first towel and then wrapped in a second dry towel, and a cap put to prevent hypothermia and to minimize any minor fluid loss. The body temperature and skin moisture level were measured before the bath, after the bath, and 10 min after the bath.Results: It was determined that the 10th-minute body temperatures of the infants with the first bathing time 48 hr after birth were significantly higher compared with the infants with the first bath time 24 hr after birth (Z = −2.654; p = .008).Practical Implications: Postponing of the first bathing time of newborns to 48 hr after birth was effective in preserving the body temperature of the infant. Postponing the bath to the 48th hr improved moisture, which may improve skin integrity and aid with skin development. K E Y W O R D S baths, body temperature, infant, newborn, skin 1 | WHAT IS CURRENTLY KNOWN? Bathing newborns is a part of routine care in hospital nurseries. While some studies recommend that newborns should be bathed during the first 2-4 hrs after birth, the World Health Organization (2013) suggests that newborns should be bathed when vital signs are stable within 24 hr after birth. | WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD?As a result of this research, postponing the first bath 48 hours after birth shows a positive effect on keeping the body temperature and moisture of the infant. | INTRODUCTIONChanges occur in the skin of newborns during the process of their adaptation to the external environment as a result of the transition from the postnatal intrauterine medium to the extrauterine medium.These changes begin quickly after birth. The maturation of the skin structure and functions of newborns starts from the first months and continues for a lifetime (Dyer, 2013;Kuller, 2014). Providing hydration of the stratum corneum is effective in maintaining skin integrity, skin barrier function property, and body temperature. The stratum corneum layer of the newborn's skin is relatively drier when compared with bigger infants (1, 2, 6-month-old) and adults, and the water retention capacity of the skin is more limited due to the lower sweat gland activity (Visscher, 2009).

The effect of delaying first bathing on skin barrier function in late preterm infants: A study protocol for multi‐centre, single‐blind RCT

“…Therefore, bathing in the early neonatal period is thought to cause heat loss in late preterm infants. Gözen et al (2019) found that delaying the first bathing until 48 hr after birth was effective in maintaining the body temperature and increasing the skin moisture of 73 term infants.…”

“…Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established in accordance with the literature (Gözen et al, 2019;Taşdemir & Efe, 2019).…”

“…Data will be collected four different times in this study (10 min before bathing and 1, 10, and 30 min after bathing) in accordance with the literature (Gözen et al, 2019;Kahraman et al, 2014;Lund et al, 2020;Taşdemir & Efe, 2019). Details and timing of data collection in the study is shown in Table 2. 10 min before bathing (T0): The comfort behaviours of the participant will be assessed simultaneously by two people (blinded researcher and blinded nurse).…”

“…Gözen et al. (2019) found that delaying the first bathing until 48 hr after birth was effective in maintaining the body temperature and increasing the skin moisture of 73 term infants.…”

“…There are also studies on the effects of baby bathing products on infants (Cole & Brissette, 1999; Liaw et al., 2006; Lund et al., 2020). However, studies on the timing of an infant's first bath are quite limited; such studies appear to cover only term infants (DiCioccio et al., 2019; Gözen et al., 2019; Long et al., 2020; Preer et al., 2013; Turney et al., 2018). Preterm infant first bathing time is still discussed in the literature, but there is no consensus.…”