The small study carried out within 10 days of the birth of 61 babies born between 28 and 32 weeks gestation was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Fonds de la Recherche en Santé de Québec. It was published in BMC Pediatrics, a peer-reviewed medical journal.
The premature babies were selected for the study based on the basis that they would all have to have blood taken using a heel prick on at least two occasions within four days of each other. The babies were split into two groups, one group had bloods taken while their mothers held them, and the second group had blood taken while in the incubator without
The baby’s pain was measured using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scoring system that measures pain based on heart rate (pain makes the heart rate increase), three facial movements, and the blood oxygen levels (which decrease with pain).
The authors of the research conclude that skin-to-skin contact with the mother decreases pain response to heel prick in premature infants born between the ages of 28 and 32 weeks.
The study would suggest that where ever possible the mother holds her newborn baby close to her while their may be having an examination, medical procedure or are uncomfortable. However, with the special care that premature babies receive, it may not always be appropriate for the baby to be held cuddled against her skin
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