Impact of Skin-to-Skin Parent-Infant Care on Preterm Circulatory Physiology

Abstract

Objectives: To ascertain the impact of skin-to-skin care between parents and infants on cardiac function and cerebral blood flow in preterm infants. Study design: We undertook a prospective study of 40 self-ventilating preterm infants at a quaternary center and assessed cardiac performance and cerebral blood flow. Assessments were carried out two hours before skin-to-skin care and then 60 minutes after skin-to-skin care (with the infant still on parent and turned supine). Results: Infants were 30.5 ± 0.6 weeks’ gestational age and 1378 ± 133 g birthweight. Axillary temperature noted a nonsignificant increase during skin-to-skin care from 36.7 ± 0.07°C to 36.9 ± 0.07°C (P =.07). Cardiac contr..