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The effects of skin‐to‐skin contact during acute pain in preterm newborns
Author(s) -
Castral Thaila C.,
Warnock Fay,
Leite Adriana M.,
Haas Vanderlei J.,
Scochi Carmen G.S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejpain.2007.07.012
Subject(s) - medicine , heel , crying , gestational age , kangaroo care , anesthesia , skin to skin , heart rate , pediatrics , pregnancy , genetics , psychiatry , biology , blood pressure , breastfeeding , anatomy
Background and purpose : Several promising non‐pharmacological interventions have been developed to reduce acute pain in preterm infants including skin‐to‐skin contact between a mother and her infant. However, variability in physiological outcomes of existing studies on skin‐to‐skin makes it difficult to determine treatment effects of this naturalistic approach for the preterm infant. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of mother and infant skin‐to‐skin contact during heel prick in premature infants. Method : Fifty nine stable preterm infants (born at least 30 weeks gestational age) who were undergoing routine heel lance were randomly assigned to either 15min of skin‐to‐skin contact before, during and following heel prick ( n =31, treatment group), or to regular care ( n =28, control group). Throughout the heel lance procedure, all infants were assessed for change in facial action (NFCS), behavioral state, crying, and heart rate. Results : Statistically significant differences were noted between the treatment and control groups during the puncture, heel squeeze and the post phases of heel prick. Infants who received skin‐to‐skin contact were more likely to show lower NFCS scores throughout the procedure. Both groups of infants cried and showed increased heart rate during puncture and heel squeeze although changes in these measures were less for the treated infants. Conclusions : Skin‐to‐skin contact promoted reduction in behavioral measures and less physiological increase during procedure. It is recommended that skin‐to‐skin contact be used as a non‐pharmacologic intervention to relieve acute pain in stable premature infants born 30 weeks gestational age or older.