Newborn Assessment

[mollybeth83]

Hi everyone. Has anyone heard of covering the neonate's liver with your hand during the initial assessment as a means of conserving heat?

Thanks!

[littlemammanurse, BSN, RN]

I have not heard of this no

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Nope. Never heard of it. Now, when keeping the newborn under the radiant warmer, we put the skin probe on the right side of his abdomen, near where the liver would be. And to count respirations, I put my hand on the neonate's abdomen, since they are obligate abdominal breathers...but to cover the liver as a means of conserving heat...nope.

Also, moving to Ob/Gyn forum.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

nope. Head, maybe.

[kerussll]

I have not heard this, no.

[mollybeth83]

Thanks everyone. I had never heard of it either and wanted to see what others thought.

[rn/writer, RN]

I have to smile when parents balk at seeing their naked newborn under the radiant warmer. To them it looks horrible, seeing this occasionally trembling, wet baby lying there with blue hands and feet.

"The baby is freezing," they'll say. "Cover her up." I try to explain that the trembling is due to an immature and hyperstimulated nervous system, the hands and feet often take some time to permanently pink up, and the blankets need to be off for the warmth to reach the baby.

For those who remain unconvinced, I ask the dad or another family member to come stand next to the crib and "feel the heat." That usually convinces them. Honestly, when I float to NICU and have to feed a pokey eater under a warmer, I feel like I'm going to melt right there on the spot.

BTW, no, I have never heard of covering the liver to retain heat. Head, hands, feet, yes, but never the liver.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

^^ Same for bili lights. Parents are used to wrapping their baby in bunches of blankets and then their baby is nekkid except for a diaper and their little goggles. I always tell parents it's like a relaxing trip to the tanning bed, complete with goggles! :)