What Are the Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact for at-Risk Infants?

Skin-to-skin contact, also called kangaroo care, is frequently associated with stabilizing many of the core vital functions, such as heart and respiration rates. It is a practice that is beneficial for all babies but particularly beneficial for those who are at-risk, such as babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight. Some of the benefits associated with skin-to-skin contact include: 

• Regulating the baby’s heart rate 
• Encouraging more consistent and quiet sleep 
• Reduce pain associated with procedures and tests
• Regulating breathing patterns 
• Encouraging further development 

A key benefit of skin-to-skin contact for at-risk infants is its ability to improve physiological stability. This typically includes heart and respiration rates but can also include oxygen saturation, body temperature, and blood sugar levels. Regulation of body temperature is particularly beneficial for preterm and low-weight babies who are unable to consistently maintain their temperature independently.  In general, studies have also shown that skin-to-skin contact can regulate anxiety, stress, and psychological distress of the mother and the baby.

Since the brain is not fully developed following birth, interactions help to influence brain activity and shape brain development. Even minimal exposure to skin-to-skin contact can encourage healthy brain activity patterns, promote hormones related to attachment or stress, and increase the likelihood of higher scores on cognitive tests. Infants who experience skin-to-skin contact typically have more brain activity related to higher-order thinking, emotional regulation, and curiosity about the world around them.

Skin-to-skin contact can reduce the pain associated with the variety of procedures and tests that infants experience after birth. Although there is not always a reduction of pain during the procedure, the reaction to pain following the completion of a procedure is often reduced. In addition to the numerous physical benefits, skin-to-skin contact promotes emotional bonding which can create a greater sense of security and well-being. The closeness of skin-to-skin contact results in the release of oxytocin which helps to comfort the baby and reduce crying. 

Sources

“Kangaroo Care”. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/12578-kangaroo-care 

“Influence Of Giving Kangaroo Mother Care On Body Temperature and Oxygen Saturation On Low Birth Weight”. Open Access Health Scientific Journal. https://oahsj.org/index.php/oahsj/article/view/36 

“Parent–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature”. National Library of Medicine.  ​https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8124223/ 

“Early Skin-to-Skin Contact Helps Baby’s Brain”. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/skin-to-skin-baby-brain 

“Skin‐to‐skin care for procedural pain in neonates”. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6464258/