Creating an Artificial Night on Physiological Changes in Preterm Infants
Creating an Artificial Night on Physiological Changes in Preterm Infants
Effects of creating an artificial night on physiological changes, weight and feeding
 tolerance in preterm infants.

 Introduction:Nowdays,with medical advances in intensive care increased chance of survival in
 premature infants.One of the major concerns exposure to high light levels in neonate &
 subsequent it is increase in metabolism rate.So,this study was conducted to determine the
 effect of creating an artificial night on physiological changes, weight and feeding tolerance
 in preterm infants.

 Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial dual group study, 38 preterm infants
 (gestational age of 30-34weeks)due to prematurity hospitalized at Ghaem NICU,were evaluated
 within 10 days. Infants were divided into two groups of 1200-1700 and 1701-2200g based on the
 weight and the weight of each group were randomized into artificial night(dark period was
 from 19 to 7 during incubator was covered with linen cloth & light period was from 7 to 19
 removed the cover) and control groups(continuous lighting). Mothers & infants through
 questionnaires,interviews,observation & document completion, changes in physiologic & weight
 befor entering the study & then physiologic changes twice a day,weight & feeding tolerance
 were collected daily.Data were analyzed using spss v.16 software.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Premature newborn infants with gestational age of 30-34 weeks Birth weight of 1200-2200g
 Taking care and supervision in the incubator to measure weight and grow up Keeping the
 axillary temperature in the range of 36-37° C Keeping the heart rate in the range of 100 to
 160 beats per minute Breast feeding through a nasogastric tube or gastric orally Healthy
 infants without congenital anomalies No history of taking specific drugs or alcohol by
 mother during the pregnancy. Mother's lack of addiction

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Illness of the infant (affecting with secondary sepsis, seizures; increased or decreased
 blood pressure, successive apnea, feeding intolerance or feeding stoppage) Starting
 phototherapy Discharge of the infant earlier than 10 days Parents' lack of consent with the
 study