SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES AND BEHAVIOR DURING PATERNAL SKIN CONTACT WITH COLOMBIAN PRETERM INFANTS

A descriptive study of eleven healthy preterm infants was conducted in which cardiorespiratory (heart and respiratory rates, oxygen saturati on), thermal (abdominal, toe and tympanic temperatures) and state beha vior responses to two hours of paternal skin-to-skin contact within th e first 17 hours of birth in Colombia, South America were evaluated. I nfant physiologic and behavioral state measures were recorded each min ute as was paternal skin temperature and behavior. Infant heart and re spiratory rates increased during paternal contact as did abdominal and core temperatures. Fathers were able to keep their infants sufficient ly warm, and five infants became hyperthermic (tympanic temperature gr eater than 37.5-degrees-C) despite cooling measures while being held i n this climate. Infants slept most of the time while being held and fa thers seldom gazed at, spoke to, or touched their infants while holdin g them. When mothers are unavailable, fathers may be an alternate sour ce of warmth and comfort to infants.