Nurses' Perception of Milk Temperature at Delivery Compared to Actual Practice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Current warming methods yield wide variation in milk temperature. Nurses' estimation of milk temperature was not consistent with measured temperature at the time of delivery. Future research is needed to establish guidelines for feeding temperature standardization assisting nurses to enhance evidence-based feeding practices.

The Evaluation of Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice about the Temperature of Milk Fed to Infants: A Descriptive Study

“…(11) In addition, the milk given to an infant in appropriate temperature promotes the development of gastrointestinal functions and speeds up growth process so that shortens the duration of hospitalization. (12) There is limited number of studies in the World literature on the optimal temperature of milk given to infants. (13)(14)(15)(16)(17) Lawlor-Klean (12) stated in their study carried out with animals that newborn mice feeding with cold milk experienced mucosal injury, hypotermia and shivering, slowing in gastroenteric blood flow and decrease in development.…”

“…(12) There is limited number of studies in the World literature on the optimal temperature of milk given to infants. (13)(14)(15)(16)(17) Lawlor-Klean (12) stated in their study carried out with animals that newborn mice feeding with cold milk experienced mucosal injury, hypotermia and shivering, slowing in gastroenteric blood flow and decrease in development. In another study by Holt et al (13) carried out with preterm infants examining the change in their body temperature due to cold milk from fridge or in body-temperature, the infants given cold milk experienced decrease in their body temperature.…”

“…(15,16) Such studies point out the problems for infants caused by not given the milk in a standardised temperature. (9,12,13,(15)(16)(17) However, there are not any standards found in Turkey as in the literature worldwide about temperature of the milk and the method to measure the temperature. Lawlor-Klean et al (12) study measuring the perception of nurses related with the effect of feeding temperature on infants' general state, it was reported that the milk given in body temperature was appropriate for infants but there was not any standard procedure in the heating of the milk in many of the neonatal intensive care units(NICU).…”

“…The nurses in the NICU typically measure the temperature of the milk such methods based on individual perception like dropping the milk inner their wrist or handling it. (12) Perception is the process of recognizing and interpreting sensory stimuli. (18) Perception is affected by the factors such as life experience, some relationships get in contact with stimuli, existing conditions in the moment of stimuli, personal and environmental characteristics.…”

“…(19) The studies emphasise that without any standardised method to measure the temperature of the milk, it might possibly given in an inappropriate temperature depending on perceptional differences and that may lead to various physiological problems. (12,13,(15)(16)(17) Neonatal nurses according to their professional nursing roles have a crucial impact on infants', admitting in neonatal or NICU, adjusting to outer environment, healthy development and growth, feeding with breast milk and protection from illnesses. (20,21) Beginning and continuing the feeding of unsuckling neonates is the responsibility of neonatal nurses.…”