A warm touch improves oxygenation in newborn babies

Oxygen saturation was studied in eight newborn babies, seven preterm and one term, with and without caressing by the mother while receiving gavage feeds. The babies were stable with regard to cardiorespiratory and neurological status. Four babies were still receiving head-box oxygen. The oxygen saturation levels were similar before feeds. However, the levels were significantly higher with caressing at 10, 20 and 30 min after the feed in babies not receiving oxygen and at 20 and 30 min after feeds in babies receiving oxygen.