wearing gloves when feeding neonates

nicumom · Apr 4, 2007

Some nurses in my unit wear gloves when feeding babies. I personally dont. I agree they need human touch. I do wear gloves when preparing breastmilk (pouring, adding fortifier). We do not have a standard of practice with this. Unless a baby is on contact precautions I think it is fine to feed without gloves

Just my thought

lovemyjob · Apr 4, 2007

same here. I dont, but we are suppose to wear gloves with all contact. I dont how it is any different than using foam before touching. I DO wear for bath, diapering if stool, and breastmilk.... also on unbathed new kids. I really prob dont wear gloves as often as I should, but i think they need the touch also.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Apr 4, 2007

I do well-baby nursery, so our kids aren't necessarily quite as compromised as in the NICU, but I agree that babies need to be touched by skin. I wear them for poo diapers, unwashed newborns, & for expressed MBM. We care for a lot of babes that aren't necessarily classified as "well" but not sick enough to need NICU -- methadone babies, we do intermittent IV abx etc. So we do have some staying with us for several weeks (sometimes months!!) and I absolutely think it's critical, esp for those kids, that they have some human touch. The methadone babies, I hold them right up next to my chest for hours when I can (with clothes on, obviously lol). It makes a world of difference for them.

prmenrs, RN · Apr 5, 2007

Just updating our standards and guidelines for infection control, currently we wear gloves and aprons for all contact with the babies (even after hand washing and when comforting them), i would like to stop the use of gloves when giving comfort and bottle feeding as i feel the babies need this human touch in relation to developmetnal care - wondered what other units do and rational behind this - i have the support of my head nurse
michelle

I can't think of a rationale TO use gloves and ?aprons (not sure what that looks like) for most routine contact.

Good handwashing and hand sanitizer between babies and between tasks on the same baby (e.g., changing diaper, then feeding). Isolation apparel (gowns and gloves) for contact isolation, separate baby to another area and keep in incubator for airborne infection.

If I am trying to assess a baby's oral-motor function and, therefore, need to have my finger in the baby's mouth, I wear gloves. And to mix/thaw/handle/fortify breast milk. But I don't just to feed the baby. We don't wear isolation gowns for routine care any more either. Not for >10 years. Parents just wash their hands before entering, too. No gowns.

I think you need to determine what the community standard is. If all the NICU's in your part of England were aprons and gloves (and have the literature to prove it's necessary), then, from a legal standpoint, you might have to do the same. If you can find literature to state it's not necessary, you can go for it.

One source for info is the Center for Disease Control (CDC.gov), or the Brittish equivalent, which, I'm ashamed to say I do not know.

I hope you can find a way not to continue the practice. Good Luck.

cathys01 · Apr 6, 2007

I use gloves when feeding breast milk (or handling breast milk in any fashion), otherwise I will feed formula without gloves on. I personally just don't want someone elses breast milk on my hands...

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Apr 6, 2007

I use gloves when feeding breast milk (or handling breast milk in any fashion), otherwise I will feed formula without gloves on. I personally just don't want someone elses breast milk on my hands...

I can understand that, it just doesn't bother me that much personally.

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 7, 2007

Our NICU also requires gloves for all pt. contact, and I have the same concerns about the babies not receiving the human touch.

The reason in our NICU is because of MRSA outbreaks, but I also am frustrated with all the interventions to try and curb them being directed at the nurses, when they are not always the issue.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 7, 2007

We got rid of wearing gloves with all pt contact, because even infection control recognized that gloves are not for the baby's protection, just the caregiver's. Obviously we use all appropriate PPE with isolation babies, and I personally wear gloves when mixing MBM, starting IV's etc. We do wear gowns over our scrubs when bottle feeding, because we may be feeding 2-3 babies in our laps, and don't want to spread germs that way.

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 7, 2007

well, it is for pt protection to wear gloves - if the germs are not being properly cleaned from the hands, then they will be passed from baby to baby. We do MRSA cx q tues, but it takes a few days to get that cx back and the child could have gotten it three days earlier...

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 8, 2007

We've found dead BUGS in our boxed nonsterile gloves, along with stuff that looks like dirt. We've changed manufacturers and haven't had a problem yet, but I kind of agree with what you said, your gloves are only as clean as your hands are.

anniesong · Apr 8, 2007

In my NICU we have a three minute scrub prior to entering the unit, and frequent handwashing or use of foam, and foam or handwashing between babies. We are required to use gloves on kids who've yet to have their first bath. Other than that, unless the baby is on precautions, we are not required to wear gloves. Some nurses wear the gloves when handling breastmilk, others don't, as it is considered up to each nurse to decide if they want to wear them for that task.