The relationship between monitoring of neonates’ sweatingin relation to activity and interaction with mothers
Noriko Tabuchi, Keiko Shimada, Kayono Konishi
Kanazawa University, Health Development Nursing, Kanazawa, Japan.

Introduction

Fig. 1. Data logger

Just after birth, newborn babies’ ability to control body temperature is not fully
developed. Therefore, postnatal temperature management is important.
Temperature is controlled by calorigenic muscle thermogenesis and sweating.
Sweat is produced through exercising, high ambient temperature, andpsychological state. It is said that newborn babies do not immediately sweat
normally, but there are few studies that have investigated the sweating of
neonates in detail. The objective of this study was to clarify the quantity of earlynewborn babies’ sweat, and the relationship of sweating to activities such as
sleeping, crying, and breastfeeding after birth.

Fig. 2. Data logger
components

Sensor for temperatureand humidity

Outflow hole at theoutside air side

Inflow hole on skin sideof case

MethodSubjects

Shielding plate forcircuit board

The study involved 25 newborns, vaginally delivered at full term, at a Japanese
Hospital between September 2010 and September 2012.

Data collection

Fig. 3. Newborns’underwear

Data was collected using a data logger (18×30×10mm, 3.0g) which was put inthe pockets of newborns’ underwear and measured the amount of sweat of thenewborn babies. To avoid damage to the newborn babies’ skin, the sensor was
not attached directly to the skin. (Fig. 1, 2, and 3)
Measurements were taken over two days.
The data logger was changed when underwear was changed on Day 1, andduring bathing on Day 2.
Newborns’ behavior during the time (e.g. crying and breastfeeding) wasrecorded on report forms.

Fig. 4.

Outside pocket

Change in cumulative amount of sweat, and relationship between
sweat rate and activity of mothers and newborn babies

BH

Sleeping

C, H B B

B H, B

Sleeping

19:00

21:00

23:00

01:00

03:00

05:00

07:00

09:00

Cumulative sweat2)(mg/cmamount[mg/cm^2]
発汗量

発汗量 [mg/cm^2]

Cumulative sweat
amount (mg/cm2)

200

BThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kanazawa University (No:271).

Sleeping

Sleeping

積算値

200

12:00

14:0016:00

18:00

20:00

22:00

00:00

02:00

Sweat rate2/min)(mg/cm
発汗量 [g/m^2/min]

B
0.3

HH

B

B

B

Sleeping

HSleeping

200

09:00

11:00

13:00

15:00

17:00

19:00

0.6

B
B

0.3

B

B

21:00

23:00

01:00

03:00

05:00

Sleeping

Sleeping

B

積算発汗量

200

13:00

Case 10 Day 1
case10
測定Ⅰ

15:00

17:00

19:00

21:00

23:00

01:00

03:00

05:00

07:00

0.3

B
B

Case 10 Day 2

B

B

B

C, H

B

C, H

C, H B
B

0.3

400
積算値

18:30

20:30

時刻
TimeKey
B - Breastfeeding
C - Crying
H - Being held by mother

22:30

00:30

Cumulative sweat

200

16:30

09:00

case10 測定Ⅱ

0.6

Multipulied sweat rate (mgcm2)
amount (mg/cm2)
発汗量 [mg/cm^2]

Cumulative sweat2)(mg/cmamount[mg/cm^2]
発汗量B HB

Time
時刻

0.6

C, H, B B

B
B B

Time
時刻

B C

H

400

積算値

Cumulative sweat2)
amount[mg/cm^2]
発汗量(mg/cm

発汗量 [g/m^2]

BSleeping

400

04:00

Case 3 Day 2

Sweat rate2/min)(mg/cm
発汗量 [mg/cm^2/min]Case 3 Day 1

積算値

Full-term, normally delivered babies exhibited sweating immediately followingbirth which was related to activity. The results suggest the potential for thedevelopment of a tool to better understand interactive behaviour between
mother and child.

BSleeping

時刻Time400

ConclusionB

B H, B

400

積算値

0.6

発汗量 [mg/cm^2/min]

It is a widely held belief that neonates do not sweat immediately after birth, but
sweating related to activity was observed. All of the neonates in this study were
full term, and normally delivered, which may be a factor. Premature babies or
those delivered by caesarean section were not included in this study. The
amount of sweat in the 24-48 hour post-birth period was significantly higher
than in the first 24-hour period. It can be inferred from observation of the spikes
in the amount of sweat that activity is taking place.

C, B

C, H, B

0.3

Time
時刻

Cumulative sweat
amount (mg/cm2)

Discussion

Sweat rate2/min)(mg/cm
発汗量 [mg/cm^2/min]

0.3

17:00

Sweat rate
(mg/cm2/min)

From a sample of 15 newborns, the average amount of sweat was 0.24±0.13
mg/cm2/min. Newborns’ sweat gradually increased from birth for the first 48hours. Spikes in the amount of sweat were observed when the babies cried,
were held, and during breastfeeding. During sleep, the amount of sweat
remained small and relatively constant. Newborn babies showed evidence ofsweating from an early stage after birth, and the quantity of sweat progressively
increased thereafter.

Case 1 Day 2
0.6

400Results

3 casesCase 1 Day 10.6

Sweat rate
(mg/cm2/min)
発汗量 [mg/cm^2/min]

The relative humidity data were recorded every ten seconds and sent to a PC.
Data on relative humidity recorded were converted to absolute humidity using
the analysis software, Origin 8. The rate of sweating (expressed as mg/cm2 /min)
was recorded every 10 seconds by the data logger for each newborn. Neonates
were also observed to investigate the relationship between activity (e.g. crying,breastfeeding and being held by mothers) and the rate of sweating.

Inside pocket

Sweat rate2/min)(mg/cm[mg/cm^2/min]
発汗量Data Analysis

Microcomputer andmemory

200

11:30

13:30

15:30

時刻Time17:30

19:30