Association between early onset of skin-to-skin contact and mother-infant interaction at hospital discharge and six months of corrected age among preterm infants

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ObjectiveTo compare mother-infant interaction between hospital discharge and at six months of corrected age of infants born ≤32 weeks and investigate the association between the onset of skin-to-skin contact and the difference in mother-infant interaction between discharge and six months of corrected age (CA) among preterm infants. Material and methodsProspective observational study, in which 72 mother-infant dyads were evaluated. Preterm newborns (born with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks of gestational age) from two public maternity hospitals were assessed by means of video macro analysis of the mother-infant interaction according to the parameters adopted by the Mother-Baby Observation Protocol 0–6 (POIMB), at hospital discharge and at six months of corrected gestational age. Such variables as socioeconomic conditions, depression and maternal anxiety were controlled. Multivariate model was built. ResultsOnset skin-to-skin contact within three days of life increased by 1.30 points for the best interactive infant behavior at discharge for the six months of CA. In addition, in relation to the tuning of the mother-infant dyad, the initiation of skin-to-skin contact at 20 days of life reduced 1.0 point significantly. Multiparous mothers or those exposed to cigarette smoke performed worse in the development of the dyad. ConclusionThe preterm newborn should initiate skin-to-skin contact early and, whenever possible, by the third day of life to favor mother-infant interaction.