Placing Preterm Infants in Polyethylene Bags Immediately After Birth

Placing Preterm Infants in Polyethylene Bags Immediately After Birth

Primary objective: To determine if placing preterm infants in a polyethylene bag (PB) immediately after birth, before the umbilical cord is clamped, will increase the number of preterm infants with a normal temperature on admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Newly born preterm infants that develop abnormal temperature after birth have higher morbidity and mortality. Placing infants < 32 weeks' gestation in a polyethylene bag (PB) in the delivery room (DR) reduces the rate of hypothermia on admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Since 2012, the rate of admission hypothermia in preterm infants, placed in a PB in the DR at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH), has increased significantly. This may be as a result of heat loss while the infant remains attached to the cord.

Our primary objective is to determine if placing preterm infants in a PB immediately after birth, before the umbilical cord is clamped will increase the number of preterm infants with a normal temperature on admission to the NICU.

Inclusion Criteria:

Infants who are inborn at the National Maternity Hospital at < 32 (up to 31+6) weeks' gestation by best obstetric estimate will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants with a large abdominal wall or neural tube defects
• Infants with an imperforate anus
• Infants to whom resuscitative measures are not initiated in the DR