ArticleFrontiers in pediatrics2023
Pilot study shows skin-to-skin care with parents improves heart rate variability in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Article in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Paradox of Technological Tenderness: The Disappearance and Reconstruction of Neonatal Touch in the NICU.Nursing inquiry · 2026Article
- Reduced heart rate variability predicts severe intraventricular haemorrhage in extremely preterm infants.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- Facilitators and challenges in the practice of skin-to-skin contact after birth: a scoping review protocol.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Skin-to-skin contact significantly impacts maternal anxiety, mother-infant bonding, and autonomic function in infants with congenital heart disease and their mothers.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Beyond breastfeeding: a One Health Decalogue for nurturing the infant microbiota.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Impact of Premature Birth and Delayed Cuddling on Maternal Support Needs and Satisfaction With Postnatal Care and Changes in Support Over Time.Child: care, health and development · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Background: Skin-to-skin care in the newborn intensive care unit typically lasts for short periods of time and enhances breastfeeding, attachment, and parental self-esteem. Heart rate variability (HRV) increases with gestational age and is a measure of maturation of parasympathetic vs. sympathetic autonomic nervous system activity. HRV measurements may be useful in capturing 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 receiving respiratory support. We hypothesized that skin-to-skin care would result in a more mature pattern of parasympathetic activity. Methods: In this prospective crossover study, infants <30 weeks' gestation and 1-6 weeks postnatal age had HRV recorded for 30 min before, during, and after skin-to-skin care sessions. 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). Results: 10 infants between 25 5/7-29 6/7 weeks gestational age and 7-41 days postnatal age completed 22 sessions while receiving respiratory support (positive pressure ventilation or nasal cannula oxygen). Two measures of HRV (SDNN and RMSSD) were significantly decreased by the end of the skin-to-skin sessions, compared to pre-session values. SDNN decreased from a median of 10.44 ms before the session to 6.70 ms after being placed back in bed ( Discussion: Skin-to-skin care with a parent resulted in a more mature autonomic nervous system pattern in preterm infants receiving respiratory support, suggesting physiologic benefit for the infant. No adverse events were seen during any session.
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Registered trials
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