Supporting Neonatal Normothermia: How Warming Mattresses Can Help
Read on as our midwife, Zoe, offers some helpful information on how warming mattresses can help to support neonatal normothermia.
Reducing SCBU Admissions through Targeted Warming Solutions
Background
Maintaining normothermia (36.5–37.5°C) is a cornerstone of neonatal care. Even mild hypothermia can increase oxygen consumption, predispose to hypoglycaemia, impair growth and raise the risk of infection. Despite national guidance, up to 25% of term infants experience suboptimal temperatures within the first 6 hours of life - an issue often heightened during winter months.
Problem
This is a problem for the following reasons:
Neonates who become hypothermic are more likely to require admission to SCBU for warming and monitoring.
Such admissions separate mother and baby, disrupting bonding and breastfeeding.
Short SCBU stays increase resource pressures, occupying cots and staff capacity.
Winter admissions correlate with higher hypothermia incidence due to colder environments.
Intervention
Wards introducing dedicated neonatal warming mattresses reported:
Consistent maintenance of normothermia, even in colder conditions.
Fewer instances of borderline hypothermia.
Increased ability to keep babies safely alongside mothers, avoiding unnecessary transfers.
Outcomes
- Reduced SCBU Admissions: At-risk babies supported on the ward without escalation.
- Improved Parental Experience: Reduced separation, ongoing skin-to-skin contact.
- Operational Benefits: Freed SCBU capacity, preserved staff time, and greater clinical confidence.
Why Now?
With colder weather approaching, the risk of neonatal hypothermia rises sharply. Seasonal data consistently show higher SCBU admission rates during autumn and winter months. Now is the ideal time to ensure your wards are equipped with warming mattresses that safeguard normothermia and prevent avoidable admissions.
The Key Takeaways
Investing in warming mattresses supports better neonatal outcomes, family-centred care and operational efficiency!
As the winter months approach, ensuring your teams are equipped can make the difference between escalation and reassurance, separation and bonding, pressure and prevention.