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Parent–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Ionio

    (CRIdee, Psychology Department, Università Cattolica, del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Giulia Ciuffo

    (CRIdee, Psychology Department, Università Cattolica, del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Marta Landoni

    (CRIdee, Psychology Department, Università Cattolica, del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Several studies have focused on neonatal maternal separation (MS) to investigate behavioural and neuroendocrine reactions to lack of contact, but only a few have focused on early separation in the first days or weeks after birth. This literature review investigates the vital importance of contact and touch by exploring how skin-to-skin contact (SSC) regulates stress in the mother–infant relationship. Various databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched for literature published between 2015 and 2020. From 1141 articles, 22 were declared eligible. The reviewed articles showed how SSC regulates child stress by biological indicators such as the autonomic nervous system (ANS), heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol, and oxytocin. This research concludes the importance of SSC for stress regulation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no research to date indicating a possible risk of neonatal COVID-19 transmission following SSC, SSC should continue to be practiced for all women, as recommended by the WHO.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Ionio & Giulia Ciuffo & Marta Landoni, 2021. "Parent–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4695-:d:545237
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Delia Cristóbal Cañadas & Tesifón Parrón Carreño & Cristina Sánchez Borja & Antonio Bonillo Perales, 2022. "Benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care on the Physiological Stress Parameters of Preterm Infants and Mothers in Neonatal Intensive Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Vera Yakupova & Anna Suarez & Anna Kharchenko, 2021. "Birth Experience, Postpartum PTSD and Depression before and during the Pandemic of COVID-19 in Russia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Delia Cristóbal-Cañadas & Tesifón Parrón-Carreño & Bruno José Nievas-Soriano, 2022. "Effect of the Kangaroo Mother Method after Preterm Delivery on Maternal Stress and Anxiety in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Lene Tandle Lyngstad & Flore Le Marechal & Birgitte Lenes Ekeberg & Krzysztof Hochnowski & Mariann Hval & Bente Silnes Tandberg, 2022. "Ten Years of Neonatal Intensive Care Adaption to the Infants’ Needs: Implementation of a Family-Centered Care Model with Single-Family Rooms in Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Delia Cristóbal Cañadas & Antonio Bonillo Perales & Rafael Galera Martínez & María del Pilar Casado-Belmonte & Tesifón Parrón Carreño, 2022. "Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care in the NICU on the Physiological Stress Parameters of Premature Infants: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, January.

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