Father-infant skin to skin contact benefits low birth weight neonates, finds study

Extensive research has been done to demonstrate clinical efficacy and health benefits of mother-infant skin to skin contact (Kangaroo Mother Care) in preterm and low birth weight neonates. A study published in Acta Pediatrica reveals better wakefulness and physiological stability among neonates who were separated from mothers who received infant-father skin to skin contact.

Ana et al from Department of Women's and Children's health, Sweden have presented benefits of providing infant-father skin-skin contact at circumstances where mother and infant need to be separated. Separating infants and mother after a Caesarean section is still the routine care worldwide, hence paternal new born care appears to be important. Also this enhances bonding of father and child in the later life.

Ana Ayala and her team performed a randomized control design to assess effects of three caring models on newborn full-term infants after a Caesarean section. 95 infants fulfilling inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups: cot, father's arm and skin-to-skin contact with their father . Physiological parameters namely heart rate, temperature , oxygen saturation were assessed and compared along with state of wakefulness among the three groups.