Effect of Early Skin to Skin Contact on Salivary Cortisol as a Biomarker of Stress in Full Term Neonates

Abstract

he transition from fetal to neonatal life and the separation between baby and his mother represent one of most important cause of stress to the infant and may has permanent harmful effects on him. When the infant attempts to cope with a stressful situation, the developing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated, culminating in alterations of cortisol level. Early Skin to skin contact (SSC) between mother and her baby through multi-sensory stimulation thought to promote positive mental and emotional health in neonates decreasing the neonatal stress after birth. Measurement of salivary cortisol has been widely used as biomarker of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity during normal activity and in response to stress. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of early SSC between mother and her neonate on the salivary cortisol as biomarker of stress. In this study, 40 full term neonates fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria, in the neonatal intensive care unit of Alexandria police hospital were trailed to evaluate the effect of early SSC on the salivary cortisol level as biomarker of stress. All the infants in this study have been subjected to detailed history taking (age, sex, order of birth, consanguinity, any prenatal maternal complications, time of crying after birth