Syntymälämpötila

Syntymälämpötila refers to the body temperature of a newborn infant at the time of birth. Maintaining a stable and appropriate body temperature is crucial for a newborn's well-being, as they are unable to regulate their own temperature as effectively as adults. Immediately after birth, newborns are at risk of heat loss due to the cooler environment outside the womb. Therefore, prompt measures are taken to prevent hypothermia, which is a dangerously low body temperature. This often involves drying the baby thoroughly and placing them in skin-to-skin contact with the mother or under a radiant warmer.

The normal range for a newborn's body temperature is typically between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperatures outside this range can indicate potential health issues. Hypothermia can lead to increased metabolic rate, difficulty breathing, and even affect the baby's immune system. Conversely, hyperthermia, or a dangerously high temperature, can also be harmful. Monitoring the syntymälämpötila is a routine part of neonatal care, and healthcare professionals use thermometers to check it regularly in the initial hours and days after birth. Interventions are implemented as needed to ensure the infant's temperature remains within the safe and healthy range.