Impact of skin-to-skin contact on the autonomic nervous system in the preterm infant and his mother

Infant Behav Dev. 2017 Nov:49:83-86. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.07.003. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Abstract

Before, during and after mother-newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC), parasympathetic activity was evaluated by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. SSC had a favorable impact on maternal and premature infant parasympathetic activities with a more pronounced response for neonates when the basal HRV values were lower, without modifications of EDIN scores, temperatures or oxygen saturation.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Kangaroo care; Premature infant.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature / physiology*
  • Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / methods*
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Risk Assessment
  • Therapeutic Touch / methods*
  • Touch / physiology