Investigating the Impact of Skin to Skin Care on Preterm Infant Heart Rate Variability

Authors

Erin Swieter, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USAFollow
Jessica M. Gross, Clinical and Translational Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Julia Stephen, The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Kristi Watterberg, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Jessie Maxwell, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-13-2023

Abstract

Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC), the act of placing a diaper-clad infant on his/her mother’s chest for continuous skin-to-skin contact, has been shown to be effective for thermal control, breastfeeding, and bonding in newborns. Skin-to-skin care, while similar to KMC, typically lasts for short periods of time and enhances breastfeeding, attachment and parental self-esteem; it has also been shown to be safe for both non-intubated and intubated preterm infants. Heart rate variability (HRV), a measurement of maturation of parasympathetic versus sympathetic activity, increases with gestational age and may be useful in capturing clinically relevant dynamic changes in autonomic regulation in response to skin-to-skin care.

Objective: To analyze the effects of skin-to-skin care on HRV in preterm infants requiring respiratory support. We hypothesized that skin-to-skin care would be associated with a more mature pattern of parasympathetic activity.

Methods: In this prospective study, eligible infants (<30 weeks gestational age at birth and between 1-6 weeks postnatal age) were identified and after parental consent, HRV was measured for 30 minutes before, during, and after a skin-to-skin care session. Each infant was his/her own control in this crossover study design. Data were abstracted from the recordings for a five-minute period from each epoch. HRV characteristics analyzed included the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), the root mean squared of successive differences of normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD), and the standard deviation of decelerations (SDDec) domains of HRV. Kubios HRV Scientific was used to obtain SDNN, RMSSD, and SDDec.

Results: Enrolled infants were between 25 5/7 – 29 6/7 weeks gestational age at birth and 7-41 days postnatal age. 22 sessions were completed in ten infants. All infants were on respiratory support. No significant episodes of apnea or bradycardia occurred. Data are currently being collated and analyzed. Next Steps: Complete statistical analysis.

Comments

Poster presented at Pediatric Research Forum

Recommended Citation

Swieter, Erin; Jessica M. Gross; Julia Stephen; Kristi Watterberg; and Jessie Maxwell. "Investigating the Impact of Skin to Skin Care on Preterm Infant Heart Rate Variability." (2023). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hsc_2023_pediatric_research/5