{"id":11175,"date":"2017-07-20T10:05:28","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T16:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=11175"},"modified":"2021-08-19T12:03:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T18:03:44","slug":"introducing-new-bathing-technique-newborns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/introducing-new-bathing-technique-newborns\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing a new bathing technique for newborns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Newborn
A newborn gets her first swaddle immersion bath with help from her parents and a Poudre Valley Hospital nurse. A swaddle immersion bath is bathing the newborn while they are loosely swaddled in a blanket. The newborn and the blanket are immersed together into a tub of water in which the water covers both baby and blanket to the baby’s shoulder. Each limb is then individually unswaddled, washed, rinsed and reswaddled. The baths are shown to be less stressful for babies and parents. Photos courtesy of Edna Sailer, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new bathing option for babies born at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital Women\u2019s Care Unit<\/a> is making newborns and their parents much happier.<\/p>\n

PVH doesn\u2019t recommend bathing a child in the first 24 hours because babies are born with a white, lotion-like substance called vernix caseosa, and it helps a baby stay warm after birth, fights off skin infections and promotes healthy skin growth, according to Geri Tamborelli, an associate chief nursing officer at PVH.<\/p>\n

PVH supports the first hours after birth being used for skin-to-skin time and establishing breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

When a family chooses or is ready to bathe their newborn, PVH provides a swaddle immersion bath, which has been found to be a better experience for a baby and caregivers.<\/p>\n

During a swaddle immersion bath, a baby is loosely swaddled in a blanket. The newborn and the blanket are immersed \u2013 up to the baby\u2019s shoulder – in a tub of water. Each limb is then individually unswaddled, washed, rinsed and reswaddled.<\/p>\n

\"Newborn
A swaddle immersion bath is bathing the newborn while they are loosely swaddled in a blanket.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAlexa loved it,\u201d said mother Kelley Crimando, who delivered Alexa, 7 pounds and 18.5 inches, via C-section at PVH earlier this year. \u201cShe didn\u2019t cry and basically was sleeping the whole time \u2014 and we had a fussy baby the first few days, so this was a whole different experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parents are now offered these options: a head wash, a swaddle immersion bath or instructions on how to do a swaddle immersion bath at home after their child is 24 hours old.<\/p>\n

\u201cBabies seem so much calmer; they don\u2019t cry as much; it takes less time, and they seem so much warmer and cleaner than with a sponge bath,\u201d said Shelli Calkins, RN and charge nurse on PVH Women\u2019s Care Unit. \u201cI love how much happier they (newborns) are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previously, a traditional sponge bath was done in the bassinet, near a sink. The newborn was not submerged in water but was naked and cleaned with a wet cloth or sponge. Studies show that the traditional sponge bath causes an increase in stress for both the baby and parent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the time with a sponge bath, the baby will cry, and you see the parents turn away,\u201d said PVH Women\u2019s Care Unit RN Edna Sailer, who spearheaded the new protocols for the healthy term newborn. \u201cIt can be a bit dramatic for both parent and baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sailer\u2019s study shows that only 38 percent of babies cried during a swaddle immersion bath compared to 93 percent who cried during a sponge bath. Among those who cried during their swaddle immersion bath, nurses recorded that the baby showed signs of hunger or cried very little. The metric for patient satisfaction was crying at any level during the bath. Like Crimando, parents reported positive feedback with the experience, Sailer said.<\/p>\n

Sailer said the swaddle immersion study showed that babies and their parents were less stressed during the swaddle immersion bath. The study also showed that it took less time and fewer steps to complete when compared with a traditional sponge bath. The increase in satisfaction had a domino effect on the rest of the patients\u2019 experiences at the hospital, from latching for breastfeeding and sleeping to the confidence the parents had when going home with their newborn, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe swaddle bath sounded intriguing, and we thought it was a good opportunity to learn while in the hospital,\u201d Crimando said. \u201cBut we (she and her husband) were both a little nervous about the bath. (Newborns) are so small and fragile, and I had heard they would cry and be unhappy. But as soon as we started doing it, it took a lot of my nervousness away. We dried Alexa off and swaddled her back up. When we got back to the room, she slept for two hours and was very relaxed. It was such a cool experience to give her the bath and see how content and peaceful she was afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has been recommended that a newborn not be given a traditional bath until the umbilical cord falls off, usually at three to four weeks of age. But studies show there is no increase in infection or bacterial colonization of the umbilical cord with immersion baths, so they can be given at 24 hours.<\/p>\n

It is not necessary to bathe a baby every day; two to three times a week is more typical, and once a week is sufficient, Sailer said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaily bathing can cause skin irritation and remove the baby\u2019s natural moisture barrier,\u201d she said. \u201cDaily, gentle wiping of genital and rectal areas at each diaper change with warm water, and washing their face and neck areas after feedings, also with warm water, is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Newborn
A newborn gets her first swaddle immersion bath with help from her parents and a Poudre Valley Hospital nurse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here are Sailer\u2019s swaddle bath how-tos:<\/p>\n