Skin to skin care and heart rate regulation

Recently we read the papers by Neu et al. and Mörelius et al. [1,2]. Their research documented cortisol co-regulation between mothers and infants during skin to skin care (SSC). Even though both studies' results exhibited lower cortisol levels, in one study with marginal differences [1] and in the other, with significant differences [2] between a group of premature infants SSC treated, as compared to the standard care (SC) group, only Mörelius et al. found cortisol co-regulation at four months of age, as an index of neuro-endrocrine effect of SSC [2].

Source: Early Human Development - October 31, 2015 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Vania Aldrete-Cortez, Joseph Perapoch, Adrián Poblano Source Type: research