Abstract
Separation between mothers and very low birth weight (VLBW) infanta is often prolonged with subsequent psychological distress, behaviour problems and lactation failure. Babies as small as 700g with atable breathing can be enjoyably held naked, except for a nappy, between the mother's breasts for up to four hours a day.
We have carried out a randomised trial among babies less than 1500g. Seventy one infants were randomised. In 35, the mother was helped to hold her baby in skin-to-akin contact and encouraged to do so whenever she visited the baby. In 36, the mother waa encouraged to handle her baby but without skin-to-skin contact. Mothers using skin-to-skin contact lactated for 4 weeks longer on average. At 6 months of age, the infants who had skin-to-skin contact cried sgnificantly less than the control group.
Five Infants with chronic lung disease, including two with nasal catheter oxygen, showed a mean 7 mm Hg rise In tcpO2 comparing skin-to-skin contact at 60 degrees and horizontal in a crib. If the baby wears a hat and has a blanket over the back, skin temperature was well maintained.
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Whitelaw, A., Sleath, K. & Acolet, D. 49 SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT FOR VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS. Pediatr Res 24, 269 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00075