Incubator care

Supervised By: Dr.Huda Wahed

Prepared By : Mohammed ibrahim Ali Obied

ID :24883
incubator care:

New born babies take time to accustom to the external environment

specially if they one premature and low birth weight. As they are on
risk to develop hypoxia, hypothermia and other many associated
adverse conditions, need special care and attention.

Application of oil or liquid paraffins to the skin of the babies

either inside the incubator or outside reduces the heat loss by
50%. If is very essential for baby to obtain an ideal environment
.for growth and development, basically survival itself
Indications:
Indication of incubation care depends on ability of neonates to sustain
and
adopt in external environment. But generally all premature babies.

1. babies with low birth weight(<1000g) may be stable.

2. hypothermic child (<32˚c).

.3. Sick children need care

Purpose:
Main purpose of keeping and caring a neonate in incubator are.

1. Maintenance of thermo neutral ambient temperature.

2. Provision of desired humidity and oxygenation.

3. Observation of very sick neonates.

4. Isolation newborn babies from infections, unfavorable external

.environment and stimulations
Types:
1. Portable and non portable– Portable incubation can be used to shift
the patient toanother area of hospital as needed.

2. Open box type.

3. Close type - Close type of incubator has special function to

concentrate fresh air after filtration. It prevents water loss from
radiation. As neonate remain inside the box the risk f infection is
minimum.

4. Double walled- The incubator has two walls. As air is not good
conductor of heat the incubator prevents heat and fluid loss.

.5. Servo control incubator

 Ideal settings of incubator:
Setting of incubator depends upon various parameters of neonate as
well as environment e.g. gestational age, maturity, body
temperature and presence or absence of disease. Recommended
Nursery temperature is 28-30c. The incubator temperature should be
such asset will maintain the temperature of neonate between 35-38c.

Neutral range of Environmental temperature

age 1200> 1500 -1201 1501-2500 2500<
1st day 0.5 ± 35.0 0.5 ± 34.3 1.0 ± 33.4 1.0 ± 33.0

2nd Day 0.5 ± 34.5 0.5 ± 33.7 1.0 ± 32.7 1.0 ± 32.0
3rd Day 0.5 ± 34.5 0.5 ± 33.5 1.0 ± 33.0 1.0 ± 32.0
4th Day and 0.5 ± 33.5 0.5 ± 32.8 1.0 ± 32.2 1.0 ± 31.5
later
A humidity of 60-70% is sufficient under most circumstances. Oxygen
delivery inside the incubator depends on well being and ability of
neonate to adapt in external environment but 7-10 lit/min of Oxygen
provides adequate oxygen to the neonate unless neonate has some
pathology.

Procedure-
 Warm and oxygenate the incubator as you receive the message of
expected arrival of neonate, generally 10-15 minutes earlier.

 Check the physician’s order.

 Explain the needs of incubator care to the parents of neonate.

 Adjust the incubation parameters and maintain, follow the chart.

. Remove the cloths of the neonate and place inside the incubator
 Provide meticulous care as long neonate remains in side.

 Continue care through port hole.

 Report to the doctor if baby is not maintaining the temperature,

generally after two abnormal readings.

 Do not bring the neonate out without justifiable cause.

 Document time and condition of the neonate.

 In open care system, cover the baby with warm cloths or to

.minimize heat loss
Cleaning and sterilization:
When the incubator is occupied, it should be cleaned daily with mild
detergent. Humidifier chamber must be emptied and cleaned daily, fill
with fresh distilled water. After seven days neonate should be sifted to
another incubator and used incubator should be cleaned with
antiseptic solution.1-2 ml of Glacial acetic acid or vinegar can be
.added to water in the humidifier to prevent bacterial growth
Special considerations :

1. It is important that the incubator should not interfere with

observation of the neonate and quality of care.

2. Sensory stimuli like light and pain should be kept to the minimal.

3. When neonate develops fever, the incubator modes have to be

changed in normal modes.

4. When the neonate is nursed in prone position, skin sensor is placed

over the flank and it should not touch the bed.

5. The neonate in the incubator should not be bathed.

.6. No alarm should be ignored