The consequences of cold stress are greater on the preterm infant compared to the full term infant. The preterm infant has less brown fat stores, poor vasomotor response and less insulation to cope with a hypothermic event. Additionally, it could be hypothesized that their biochemical response to such an event would prove to be immature and inadequate as well. The consequences of cold stress can be quite severe. As the body temperature decreases, the baby becomes less active, lethargic, hypotonic, sucks poorly and their cry becomes weaker.
Respiration becomes shallow and slow and the heart-beat decreases.
Sclerema hardening of skin with redness develops mainly on the back and the limbs. The face can also become bright red. All infants are at risk for cold stress particularly within the first 12 hours of life. There are four mechanisms for heat loss, conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. Conduction involves heat transfer from one object to another by actual contact.