Skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) accelerates autonomic and neurobehavioural maturation in preterm infants

Many preterm infants cared for in incubators do not experience Kangaroo Care (KC), skin-to-skin contact with their mothers, due to fear of body heat loss when being held outside the incubator. A randomized clinical trial of 16 KC and 13 control infants using a pretest-test-posttest design of three consecutive interfeeding intervals of 2.5 to 3.0 h duration each was conducted over 1 day. Infant abdominal and toe temperatures were measured in and out of the incubator; maternal breast temperature was measured during KC. Repeated measures ANOVA showed no change in abdominal temperature across all periods and between groups. Toe temperatures were significantly higher during KC than incubator periods, and maternal breast temperature met each infant’s neutral thermal zone requirements within 5 min of onset of KC. Preterm infants similar to those studied here will maintain body warmth with up to 3 h of KC.

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Randomized Crossover Trial of Kangaroo Care to Reduce Biobehavioral Pain Responses in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800410385839 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 204-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Xiaomei Cong ◽

Susan M. Ludington-Hoe ◽

Stephen Walsh

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

Kangaroo Care ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Infant Pain ◽

Skin To Skin ◽

Incubator Care ◽

Pain Responses

Kangaroo care (KC), skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant, is a promising method for blunting pain responses. This crossover pilot tested KC effects on biobehavioral responses to heel stick in preterm infants (30—32 weeks’ gestational age, 2—9 days old) measured by Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) and salivary and serum cortisol. Mother—infant dyads were randomly assigned to KC heel stick (KCH) first or incubator heel stick (IH) first. Study 1 (80-min study, N = 18) tested the effect of 80 min of KC before and throughout the heel stick procedure versus incubator care. Study 2 (30-min study, N = 10) tested 30 min of KC before and throughout the heel stick versus incubator care. KCH and IH began during a premeasurement phase and continued through four data collection phases: baseline, heel warming, heel stick, and recovery. PIPP responses were measured every 30 s during data collection; salivary cortisol was measured at the end of baseline and recovery; and serum cortisol was measured during heel stick. Study 1 showed no differences between KCH and IH. Study 2 showed lower PIPP scores at four time points during recovery (p < .05 to p < .001), lower salivary cortisol at the end of recovery (p < .05), and lower serum cortisol during heel stick for the KCH condition (p < .05) as well as clinically lower PIPP scores in the KCH condition during heel stick. Thirty minutes of KC before and throughout the heel stick reduced biobehavioral responses to pain in preterm infants.

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Vocal responsiveness of preterm infants to maternal infant-directed speaking and singing during skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) in the NICU

Infant Behavior and Development ◽

10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101332 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

pp. 101332 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Eduarda S. Carvalho ◽

João M.R.M. Justo ◽

Maya Gratier ◽

Teresa Tomé ◽

Esmeralda Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Kangaroo Care ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Skin To Skin

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Association between early onset of skin-to-skin contact and mother-infant interaction at hospital discharge and six months of corrected age among preterm infants

Early Human Development ◽

10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105525 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105525

Author(s):

Cynthia Ribeiro do Nascimento Nunes ◽

Nathalia Freitas de Faria ◽

Juliana Rodrigues Peixoto Arruda ◽

Marcelle D'Ávila Diniz Bartholomeu ◽

Gislene Cristina Valadares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Discharge ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Early Onset ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Skin To Skin

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Time of initiation of skin-to-skin contact in extremely preterm infants in Sweden

Acta Paediatrica ◽

10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02398.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 101 (1) ◽

pp. 14-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Evalotte Mörelius ◽

Charlotte Angelhoff ◽

Jennie Eriksson ◽

Elisabeth Olhager

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

Extremely Preterm Infants ◽

Skin To Skin

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Peer Review #1 of "Early skin-to-skin contact between healthy late preterm infants and their parents: an observational cohort study (v0.1)"

10.7287/peerj.3949v0.1/reviews/1 ◽

2017 ◽

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Peer Review ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Observational Cohort Study ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Late Preterm Infants ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Observational Cohort ◽

Skin To Skin

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When Parenthood Comes Early: Enhancing Parent-Child Bonding in the NICU

Annals of Nursing Research & Practice ◽

10.26420/annnursrespract.2021.1039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarantaki A ◽

Keyword(s):

Premature Neonate ◽

Parental Role ◽

Kangaroo Care ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Early Experiences ◽

Centered Care ◽

Becoming A Mother ◽

Skin To Skin ◽

Family Centered ◽

Parent Child

Background: Pregnancy is the period nature has provided future parents so they adapt and process the big event of becoming a mother and father. When a pregnancy ends sooner than expected, parents feel unsure and unprepared for their new role and responsibilities. Moreover, the complex feelings they experience when the premature neonate is admitted in the NICU, become enlarged by the disruption of bonding with their child. Aim: The aim of this paper is firstly to understand the importance of bonding for both the neonate and the parents and secondly to propose ways of enhancing parent-child bonding, when the latter is admitted in the NICU. Conclusion: Parent-child bonding is essential for the parental role, the parents’ mental health as well as the infant’s development. NICU environment is possible to become friendlier in a way that enables parents to participate in their child’s care and early experiences. Family-centered care enhances parentchild bonding, with the main contributor being skin-to-skin contact and Kangaroo care.

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