AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE VERY LBW INFANTS CLOSER TO THE PARENTS

Abstract

Very LBW infants (<1500g) are nursed in incubators (I) or radiant warmers. Usually parents are allowed to visit and touch their infant establishing a limited contact. We hipothesized that it is not of risk to remove the infants from the I and to let their parents hold them between aims. We studied 15 neonates birth weights 900 to 1400g, (1124±174g) clinically stable and not on mechanical ventilation between ages 7 and 44 days (17.4±12). Infants were dressed in the I and 4 were receiving intravenous fluids(IV)Heart rate, transcutaneous pO2, O2 Saturation (Pulse Oxymetry); skin(S), rectal and enviromental temperature were continuously recorded. Axillary T was measured every 5 minutes. We studied three 20 min. periods: 1) Control in the I; 2) In mother's arms covered by a regular sheet and blanket and with no additional heat; 3) Control in the I.

Results: There were no complications in any patient. None of the infants had a decrease in T during period 2. On the contrary T increased by 0.4°C, axillary 2, Rectal 3, and cutaneous 12 patients. Oxigenation was stable (Basal ± 20%) in 12 infants. 3 had a drop in TcpO2 > 20% which was brief, recovered spontaneously and had no effect on other clinical variables. In all cases parents showed a favorable attitude towards repeating the experience. We conclude that stable very LBW infants can be temporally removed from the I to be held by their parents, providing monitoring available at any NICU with no evident risks. This early contact may enhance parent-infant relationships.

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