Systematic review of the effects of skin-to-skin care on short-term physiologic stress outcomes in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) exposes infants to many different stressors. There is increasing evidence that chronic stress early in life can have long-term impacts on health. Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an intervention that can be used to reduce stress in the NICU. In this review of the literature, we found that current research suggests that SSC improves short-term cardiorespiratory stress outcomes compared with incubator care. There is strong evidence that SSC reduces cortisol and increases oxytocin levels in preterm infants. Additional research is needed on timing of initiation, duration, and frequency of SSC to optimize the stress-reducing benefits.

Authors: Britt Pados & Francis Hess

Publication Information: Advances in Neonatal Care. 2020; 20(1): 48-58. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000596

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Physiology of stress and use of skin-to-skin care as a stress-reducing intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit

Critically ill infants often experience significant stress related to painful procedures and physical separation from their parents. In this article, I describe the physiologic mechanisms of the stress response and how this relates to mortality and morbidity in infants in the NICU. Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is a safe and effective intervention to counteract the stress of the NICU experience and optimize outcomes of care.

Authors: Britt Pados

Publication Information: Nursing for Women’s Health. 2019; 23(1): 59-70. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2018.11.002

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