Newborn Hypoglycemia

929 Words2 Pages

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to identify a problem evident in the clinical setting, state a proposal to counteract the clinical problem, and review literature which supports best clinical practice. During the first twelve hours of the neonate’s life, the neonate adjusts and transitions to the extra uterine environment (Nix, n.d.). Research has shown that during this transitional period, the neonate is at a high risk for hypoglycemia and hypothermia (Nix, n.d.). Furthermore, neonatal skin to skin contact with its mother is highly recommended during the first few hours of life, for proper thermoregulation, maternal-infant bonding, and exclusive breastfeeding success.
According to Indira & Jyotsna (2015), “hypoglycemia is one of the most common metabolic problems seen in the newborn nursery.” Early newborn hypoglycemia and prolonged hypoglycemia can lead to mental retardation and brain damage (Indira& Jyotsna, 2015). A newborn is deemed hypoglycemia if their …show more content…

Newborn case fatality rates associated with hypothermia range from 8.5% to 52% (Lunze et al., 2013). An estimate of eighteen million infants are born with a low birth weight annually, and sixty to eighty percent of neonatal deaths are accounted for due to low birth weight (Lunze, 2013). Premature infants and infants with a low birth weight are at increased risks for becoming hypothermic due to insufficient amounts of brown fat. A systemic review and meta-analyses were conducted to analyze infant hypothermia (Lunze, 2013). Through research is was found that factors associated with hypothermia include environmental, physiological, behavioral, and socioeconomic (Lunze, 2013). These various factors encompass seasonal weather, anatomic characteristics, hypoglycemia, early bathing, and infants born to young and unexperienced mothers (Lunze,

Open Document