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Labor & deliveryWarmingThe newborn enters the world approximately half a degree warmer than the temperature in the uterus. This heat is quickly goes away if the newborn is not kept warm. Shortly after birth the baby will be dried off with a towel. Soon thereafter he or she will have a knit cap placed on his or her head to prevent heat loss. The baby will be placed in a warmer during the pediatric examination to maintain his or her temperature. When the exam is complete, you will be able to hold your baby. One of the best places for a baby to be is against your skin. Skin to skin contact with your baby is a great way to keep your baby’s temperature up and for you to get to know each other. Full-term babies can shiver to keep their body temperature up but this is not true for premature babies who need even more help staying warm. You or your birth partner can provide skin to skin contact for your baby. Your particular clinician will work with you and your partner on the process best for your delivery.After 48 hours all babies are tested for phenylketonuria (PKU) and other metabolic disorders that all state departments of health require. PKU is a genetic disease that affects protein metabolism. In this disease the enzyme that converts phenylalanine to tyrosine is absent or not adequate. If not treated, children can develop mental retardation and seizures. This can be partially prevented by a special diet that is low in phenylalanine. Because the effects of this disease are so serious, all babies are screened for it at birth so that the proper diet can be started right away.
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