The effect of bath on feeding, pain and physiological parameters of newborns

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effect of bath on the nutrition, pain and physiological parameters of newborns. Methods: This study was carried out with 100 randomly selected newborn with pain score 3 and above. The physiological parameters of the newborns, which were included in our study before the bath, 15 minutes (mins) after the bath, 30 mins and 60 mins, were examined the levels of nutrition and pain. Physiological measurements of newborns are recorded with the Newborn Follow-up Form and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics analysis of variance and Bonferroni analysis were used. Results: It was found that newborns' pain scores before and after the bath were gradually decreased within the first hour, according to repeated measurements of nutrition, the amount of nutrition of the newborn increased and the increase was at 30-60 mins after the bath. In addition, it was found that body temperature and saturations increased in the 30th and 60th mins of newborns after the bath and their pulse decreased in all measurements compared to the before bath (p?0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the bathroom reduces the pain of newborns and increases the amount of nutrition in newborn intensive care units. In repeated measurements, it was found that the bathroom had positive effects on the physiological parameters of newborns. Nurses play an active role in reducing the pain of newborn babies and increasing their nutrition. Therefore, nurses should establish evidence-based methods, guidelines and protocols for bathing newborns