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Published on: January 26, 2019
Regular and prolonged skin-to-skin contact improves short-term outcomes for very preterm infants: A dose-dependent
C Casper1, I Sarapuk2, H Pavlyshyn2
1Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 330, avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
Insights
Early, regular, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact (SSC) significantly benefits preterm infants. This practice reduces infections, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and cholestasis, while promoting breastfeeding.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Infant health
Background:
- Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is vital for preterm infant neurodevelopment and family-centered care.
- Investigating the impact of SSC's timing, frequency, and duration is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of skin-to-skin contact in preterm infants.
- To determine the influence of early, regular, and prolonged SSC on infant health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 26 preterm infants (24/0-28/6 weeks gestational age).
- Infants categorized by timing (1st week vs. after 1st week), regularity (daily vs. irregular), and duration (>3h/day vs. <3h/day) of SSC.
- Analysis of correlations between SSC parameters and health outcomes.
Main Results:
- Early SSC (within 1st week) correlated with lower incidence of secondary infections, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and cholestasis.
- Regular SSC (daily) was associated with a significantly lower incidence of secondary infections.
- Prolonged SSC (>3h/day) correlated with reduced secondary infections and improved breastfeeding rates.
Conclusions:
- Early, regular, and prolonged SSC positively impacts preterm infants' health.
- Early SSC reduces risks of BPD, cholestasis, and nosocomial infections.
- Sufficient duration of daily SSC lowers infection rates and supports breastfeeding initiation.
Introduction:
Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is a cornerstone of neurodevelopment and family-oriented care for preterm infants. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of skin-to-skin contact in preterm babies depending on regularity, duration, and the period of the first contact.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective study involved 26 premature infants with gestational age 24/0-28/6 weeks who were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal department. All infants had SSC with their parents.
Results:
According to the first SSC, newborns were divided into two groups: group 1 (SSC began in the 1st week of life) and group 2 (SSC began after the 1st week of life). Group A (SSC was performed regularly, i.e., everyday) and group B (SSC was irregular, i.r., once every 2 or 3 days) were based on the regularity of SSC. Depending on the duration of SSC, group І (SSC was more than 3h per day) and group II (SSC was less than 3h per day) were formed. Early SSC correlated with lower incidence of secondary infections (OR=6.75; 95% CI 1.06-42.84; P=0.051), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR=10.67; 95% CI 1.70-66.72; P<0.015), and cholestasis (P=0.022). Regular SSC correlated with lower incidence of secondary infections (OR=15.0; 95% CI 1.50-149.70; P=0.014). Duration of SSC was correlated with lower rates of secondary infections (OR=7.00; 95% CI 1.20-40.83; P=0.043) and better rates of breastfeeding (OR=7.00; 95% CI 1.20-40.83; P=0.043).
Conclusion:
Early, regular, and prolonged SSC has a positive impact on premature infants' health. In particular, early SSC is associated with a reduced risk of BPD development, cholestasis, and nosocomial infection. Prolonged daily skin-to-skin contact is associated with a lower incidence of nosocomial infection and promotes breastfeeding.
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