Hypothermia occurs when the newborn’s temperature drops below 36.3°C. The smaller or more premature the newborn is, the greater the risk of heat loss. When heat loss exceeds the newborn’s ability to produce heat, its body temperature drops below the normal range and the newborn becomes hypothermic. Early prevention measures are vital.

1. Heat Loss in
Neonates
CAUSES AND PREVENTION
Ann Waters: Product Marketing: QED Scientific Ltd.

2. key physiologic challenges a newborn baby faces
directly after delivery:
While in utero, heat production by the fetus results in a fetal temperature that is approximately half a degree higher than
maternal temperature.
▪ After birth, the newborn infant is exposed to a much different environment. The risk of hypothermia is real and
potentially dangerous.
▪ Immediately after birth - heat is transferred from the newborn to the environment.
▪ Loss of heat occurs via: Radiation, Conduction, Convection, and Evaporation.

3. The Mechanisms of Heat Loss: Radiation,
Conduction, Convection and Evaporation

4. The newborn baby emits heat energy in the form of infrared
electromagnetic waves.
Conduction: Heat loss or gain via conduction occurs through direct contact with a
surface with a different temperature. Such as a cold mattress or scales. Direct transfer
of heat occurs from the newborn to this surface.
Convection: Heat is transferred by convection when air currents carry heat away from
the body surface, i.e. If the infant's body surface is warmer than the surrounding air (as
is almost always the case in the delivery room).
Evaporation: Evaporation occurs when water is lost from the skin. During evaporation,
water is converted from a liquid to a gas, causing approximately 0.6 kcal of heat to be
lost for every 1 g of water lost from the body.
Radiation: The loss or gain of this ‘radiant’ energy is proportional to the temperature
difference between the skin and the radiating body; heat may be lost from the infant's
body to a nearby cold wall or window.

5. A Newborn Babies Response to Thermal Stress Compared with Adults
Thermal regulation is distinctly different in newborns than in
adults.
▪ Adults: In adults, the responses to a cold body temperature include
peripheral vascular constriction, inhibition of sweating, voluntary
muscle movements, involuntary muscle movements (shivering) and
nonshivering thermogenesis.
▪ Neonates: Newborns do not exhibit many of these responses and
therefore are more susceptible to rapid heat loss.
▪ If not adequately attended to, a newborn infant may experience
hypothermia and cold stress.
▪ During evaporation, water is converted from a liquid to a gas, causing
approximately 0.6 kcal of heat to be lost for every 1 g of water lost
from the body.
▪ Evaporation is particularly problematic for infants born at 25 weeks
gestation age as they lose 15 times more water than term infants due
to immature and thinner skin.

6. Normal Temperature for Neonates
▪ The normal temperature range
for a neonate is 36.5 to 37.7 °C.
▪ Cold stress may occur when an
infant's temperature drops to
36.0 °C. Temperatures below
36 °C are considered
hypothermic.
▪ Moderate hypothermia is
considered to be between 32 and
36 °C. Severe hypothermia is
considered when the infant's
temperature is less 32 °C.

7. Sources of Heat Loss Preventive Measures
Heat Loss Cause: Conduction
Preventions:
Warming blanket
Drapes or blankets
Head covering
Heat Loss Cause: Radiation
Preventions:
Radiant warmer
Wrap neonate
Warm room
Heat Loss Cause: Convection
Preventions:
Room temperature to 26.6ºC (80ºF)
Incubator
Heated Mattress
Heat Loss Cause: Evaporation
Preventions:
Heated, humidified inspired gases
+ body humidification
Plastic bags / wrap for preterm (<28-30 weeks)-

8. Some Heat Loss Prevention Products:
Neonatal Warming Blankets, Radiant Warmers, & Incubators.
Baby Heated Blanket – Swaddling Style
• Temperature: 32°C to 39°C with accuracy of 0.1°C.
• Safety: Alarm system.
• Materials: State of the art Carbon fibre material X-
rays penetrable.
• Voltage: Low input safety voltage
• Heating Duration: Temperature can reach to 37 °C
in within 7-10 minutes.
• Blanket Dimensions: 60×35 cm
• Warming Duration: Up to 4 hrs
• Certifications: ISO and CE certificated/Medical
Device.
• Weight: Control unit weighs 1.6 kg
Extras: Alternative sizes can be manufactured and
disposable and reusable covers are available.
http://www.qedscientific.com/neonatal-warming-
Heated Blankets

9. Radiant Warmers
Infant Radiant Warmer - All-in-one versatile design.
Designed for optimum convenience, ease of use, and total comfort.
The OCW-100 is packed with features yet a very robust design for a
long operational life.
The warmer comes with individual display temperature readouts.
http://www.qedscientific.com/neonatal-infant-warmer.html
Features include:
• Warmer device with operational manual and
servo modes
• Generous bassinet with mult-tilting mechanism
and unique side-positioned pillar providing all-
round access to infant.
• No calibration thermistor probe
• Multi-positional warmer lamp for easier xrays
• Examination lamp for observation
• IV pole, instrument tray and drawer for
accessories
• Unit comes with swivel castors fitted with
brakes.

10. Incubators
INC-200 Intensive Care Incubator.
Designed to provide a safe and stable environment as possible
for critical neonates.
Specifically tailored to meet any situation involving critical care for
babies.
Features Include:
•Double Wall Canopy
•Servo Humidity Control
•Servo Oxygen Control
•Inbuilt Weighing Scale
•7" Touch Screen Display
•Motorised Tilting & Height Adjustment
•Masimo Pulseoximetry
http://www.qedscientific.com/neonatal-intensive-care-incubator.html

11. QED Scientific Limited,
Unit 21 Botany Business Park
Whaley Bridge
High Peak
SK23 7DQ.
Telephone: 01663-735494
QED Scientific is a well-established UK based company supplying an extensive range of
medical equipment as well as equipment for pharmaceutical quality control and general
laboratories. One of our specialities is in patient warming care. We design and build fluid
and blanket warming cabinets in any size and capacity including combined units offering a
cost-effective and space-saving solution to patient warming in operating theatres.
We often receive requests from hospital staff for custom made fluid warming units such
as where a warming cabinet needs to accommodate a certain number of bottles. Our
highly experienced staff at QED has decades of expertise in patient warming and is
dedicated to meeting the demands of hospital requirements by offering practical solutions.
As well as our bespoke service – we also supply actively heated patient warming systems
catering for patients of all ages from premature babies to adults. The MedWarm system
is a complete solution to warming patients in the peri-operative setting, pre-, during and
post-surgery in recovery/PACU, as well as portable transport warming. The full range
consists of scientifically developed neonate swaddling blankets, warming blankets, and
mattresses.
We also cater for blood transfusion departments supplying a comprehensive range of the
latest technologically advanced EverMed blood bank refrigerators, platelet incubators and
agitators, and plasma freezers. Reagent and pharmacy refrigerators help to complete this
medical range.
QED Scientific also supplies equipment to pharmaceutical and industrial laboratories. The
major products in this range include storage refrigerators and freezers, ovens to 500°C,
cooled and heated incubators, humidity and climatic chambers. We also supply air
filtration products from Air Science – from formalin dispensing and filtered chemical
storage cabinets to the full range of fume and particulate filtered cabinets that are widely
used in many laboratories.
Our maintenance engineers offer full after sales support throughout the UK and in-house
technicians provide full technical backup.
QED Scientific is accredited to ISO9001:2008