Evidence based practice for newborn care

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hi! I am looking for some information. A friend of mine is doing some research to help change the way they do things at their hospital's newborn nursery. She needs information on first baths (what to wash with), cord care (what to use), first feeding (what to feed...believe it or not, their orders are still for first feed with D5W), bili checks, glucose checks, hypoglycemia. We have found out quite a bit online, but would love to know what other hospitals in the US do in their nurseries! Of course...if you don't mind sharing! Thanks so much!

Specializes in L&D, OBED, NICU, Lactation.

Alcohol on cords is no longer recommended, nor is it superior in any way to natural drying. It actually prolongs the drying time in a statistically significant manner. My facility actually has a check box on our assessment form for cord care that some nurses do check off, I can only assume they are swabbing it with alcohol. Some old habits die hard.

Dore, S., Buchan, D., Coulas, S., Hamber, L., Stewart, M., Cowan, D., & Jamieson, L. (1998). Alcohol Versus Natural Drying for Newborn Cord Care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 27(6), 621–627. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1998.tb02631.x

Also, here's an evidence-based review from the University of San Francisco's DNP program - http://repository.usfca.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=dnp

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Specializes in L&D, OBED, NICU, Lactation.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Alcohol on cords is no longer recommended, nor is it superior in any way to natural drying. It actually prolongs the drying time in a statistically significant manner. My facility actually has a check box on our assessment form for cord care that some nurses do check off, I can only assume they are swabbing it with alcohol. Some old habits die hard.

Dore, S., Buchan, D., Coulas, S., Hamber, L., Stewart, M., Cowan, D., & Jamieson, L. (1998). Alcohol Versus Natural Drying for Newborn Cord Care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 27(6), 621–627. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1998.tb02631.x

Also, here's an evidence-based review from the University of San Francisco's DNP program - http://repository.usfca.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=dnp

We only still mention alcohol fir cord care because of one our peds. I teach both because its policy to talk about alcohol; but I mention research in favor of natural drying and sterile water when discussing cord a care with my patents. Thanks for your links.

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