THERMOREGULATION IN THE NEONATE
Modes of Heat Generation
Metabolic activity (moderate source for neonate)
Voluntary muscle activity (insignificant source for neonate)
Peripheral vasoconstriction (insignificant source for neonate)
Thermogenesis
Shivering (insignificant source for neonate)
Nonshivering (uses brown fat, a significant source of heat production in neonate)
Nonshivering Thermogenesis (NST)
Skin temperature falls immediately after delivery.
This fall is halted when the umbilical cord is clamped, initiating NST to raise body
temperature.
NST in prematurity
Neonates born at greater than 30 wga do not have dorsal surface NST.
SGA neonates show markedly decreased NST compared to AGA.
It is only during the third trimester that neonates can produce heat to overcome
cold stress.
NST is mediated by brown fat