Preterm Infants Show Significant Differences in Temperature Regulation During Skin-To-Skin Contact With Their Mother or Father: A Crossover Observational Trial.

AIM: Skin-to-skin contact stabilizes vital signs, particularly body temperature, in preterm infants. The aim was to determine whether there are differences in body temperature depending on whether preterm infants have skin-to-skin contact with their mother or their father.

METHODS

In this crossover study, the body temperature of 18 preterm infants (gestational age 29.4 (±2.97) weeks) was measured every minute during two skin-to-skin contact sessions with their mother and two with their father.

RESULTS

The infants' skin temperatures during skin-to-skin contact with their mother and father, respectively, were 36.47 (±0.33)°C and 36.44 (±0.38)°C at the start (p = 0.795), after 10 min 36.64 (±0.34)°C and 36.48 (±0.34)°C respectively (p = 0.196), after 60 min 36.93°C (±0.22) and 36.72°C (±0.25) (p = 0.010) and, after 80 min, 36.90°C (±0.29) and 36.70°C (±0.31) (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

The results show that preterm infants do indeed exhibit different temperature profiles depending on which parent they have skin-to-skin contact with. These differences can be easily compensated for through nursing interventions and do not conflict with kangaroo care provided by fathers. Given the benefits of kangaroo care provided by fathers, it is essential to continue to support this practice unreservedly.