Every year an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm – before 37 weeks gestation – and the numbers are rising1. This means that one in ten babies is born too soon and is extremely vulnerable requiring urgent and special neonatal care. A simple but important element of this care is ensuring a stable body temperature.
Preterm births remain the single biggest cause of neonatal death globally and is the second biggest cause of death under 5 years of age, despite a reduction in mortality over the past two decades1, 3.
The moment a baby is born, it leaves a warm and safe cocoon to enter a much cooler world. To help to adjust to life outside the womb, skin-to-skin or kangaroo contact, a natural care practice where a newborn is dried and laid directly on the mother’s chest and covered with a warm blanket for at least an hour, is advised2. For full term infants without complications, this promotes bonding and regulates a baby’s temperature, heart rate and breathing. However, for preterm babies, more specialist intervention such as the use of incubators is often required to support their tiny bodies and less developed organs.
Warmth is a basic need in the neonatal care continuum. Yet, four of ten babies arrive into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cold5. Preterm babies, particularly, have low birth weight and a limited ability to thermoregulate and, thus, are prone to a decreased core temperature. Studies have shown that with each 1ºC drop in temperature there is a 28% increase in mortality4 and 11% increase in Sepsis5.
Partnership to help ensure every baby has the best start
GE Healthcare is committed to raising the standards of infant and maternal health and has commenced its platinum partnership with The European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). EFCNI represents the interests of preterm and newborn infants and their families. It brings together healthcare experts from hospitals, academia, innovation and science with a common goal of improving long-term health to ensure every baby has the best start in life. EFCNI was instrumental in publishing the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health written by over 220 key opinion leaders from more than 30 countries, supported by more than 190 international and national healthcare societies and parent organisations and referred in the report “Survive and Thrive: transforming care for every small and sick newborn” by the World Health Organization(WHO) and UNICEF.
“Raising awareness and amplifying the needs of mothers and newborn babies is so important – every person deserves the very best outcome from the very first breath they take,” states Silke Mader, Chairwomen of the Executive Board at The European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants. “Our collaboration with GE Healthcare will look to expand knowledge and education about the essential focus on a newborn baby’s temperature management. Of course, there are so many aspects of care to consider in NICU, such as cardiovascular and respiratory, but it is important that temperature regulation from birth has enough focus.”
The relationship between GE Healthcare and EFCNI will look to heighten awareness of the growing challenge of preterm birth and strengthen the network of luminaries, policy-makers, health professionals and parental organisations. It will also help communicate the issues and amplify dialogue onto a broader stage to influence the perinatal environment and effect positive change.
The partnership will initially focus on the importance of temperature management of newborns in NICU, tackling resuscitation challenges, and patient safety. By working together, knowledge on the key issues and identifying best-practice solutions will strengthen clinical outcomes.
“Supporting best-practice, new innovations and developing education in maternal and newborn health is crucial. Whilst health problem of adults rank high on the global agenda right now, it is important that NICU baby transfer solutions and ensuring stabilised newborn body temperatures do not slip lower on the list,” adds Silke Mader, EFCNI.
“Recognising the key issues in perinatal care and helping newborn babies achieve their maximum potential is a fundamental element in global healthcare,” states Barbara Troccon, General Manager of Maternal & Infant Care at GE Healthcare. “We are committed to championing the key trends that are impacting survival rates, and developing devices and solutions through collaboration with our industry partners that directly meet needs. Together, we can ensure every life matters, from the very first breath.”
To know more about the partnership and upcoming activities, click here
Sources:
1 WHO, Feb 2018, Preterm birth facts, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
2. WHO recommendation on skin-to-skin contact, Feb 2018, https://extranet.who.int/rhl/topics/newborn-health/care-newborn-infant/who-recommendation-skin-skin-contact-during-first-hour-after-birth
3. Lackritz EM, Wilson CB, Guttmacher AE et al. A solution pathway for preterm birth: Accelerating a priority research agenda. Lancet Global Health 2013;1(6):e328-e30.
4. Simmons LE RC, Darmstadt GL, Gravett MG. Preventing Preterm Birth and Neonatal Mortality: Exploring the Epidemiology, Causes, and Interventions. Semin Perinatol 2010 34:408-15.
5. Vermont Oxford Network, NICU by Numbers, accessed March 2018, https://public.vtoxford.org/nicu-by-the-numbers/despite-decreases-nearly-4-in-10-infants-are-cold-when-admitted-to-the-nicu/
