(Untitled)

[daveandmonika]

Anyone know what this would be on a newborn's belly?

Comments

[hollis1975]

heart monitor?

[tab2004]

seconded
my nephew had one on for a short time after birth last month

[daveandmonika]

was it precautionary or was he having a problem?

[coral82]

Heart monitor. The ones at our hospital were heart shaped.

[chickapin]

It's a thermometer, covered with a reflective shield (the circle) and then taped down. The thermometer gets plugged into a radiant warmer, which can be set to adjust the temperature of the warmer based on the baby's temp. If the baby's temp drops, the warmer gets hotter, and if the baby's temp goes up too much, it will get a little cooler. It's one of several ways of getting a cold baby warmed up (another way is skin to skin contact/kangaroo care on mom or dad). I'm an RN and I work with them almost every day.

[daveandmonika]

interesting!

[chickapin]

For reference, this baby has both the temperature probe (silver heart) and heart monitor (circles). Link goes to random baby on Flickr.

[ladyinred667]

Yes, this. I am an RN as well.