OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of bathing right after birth on newborn's transition to extra-uterine life, mainly regarding thermoregulation and cardiorespiratory adaptation. METHODS: A retrospective comparative study enrolled infants admitted between January and March 2006 in a private tertiary care maternity hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Inclusion criteria were: Apgar score > 8 (5th minute), birth weight >2500g; gestational age >37 weeks, no congenital anomalies. Newborns were divided in two study groups: 'bath' (bath right after birth) and 'control' (bath after the 3rd hour of life). Outcome variables were evaluated at neonatal unit arrival: body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, mean arterial pressure. The time interval from birth to admission in the neonatal unit, the rate of breastfeeding in delivery room and mode of delivery were also analyzed. RESULTS: 194 newborns were included: 98 in the bath and 96 in the control group. Both groups had similar temperature at admission in the neonatal unit (36.6±0.4 and 36.6±0.3ºC; p=0.68); heart rate (143±13 and 146±14 bpm; p=0.26) respiratory rate (51±6 and 51±9 mov/min; p=0.90) mean blood pressure (44±6 and 47±9 mmHg; p=0.13) and oxygen saturation (98±2 and 98±3%; p=0.99) were also similar. The breastfeeding rate (91% and 57%; p<0.001) as well as the interval from birth to admission in the neonatal unit (95±21 and 79±29 minutes; p<0.001) were higher in the bath group. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, bathing after birth in the delivery room did not affect thermoregulation and cardiorespiratory adaptation of term newborns.
baths; infant, newborn; delivery rooms; monitoring, physiologic; body temperature regulation
