A descriptive exploratory design was used m tins study to evaluate the effects of
early parent touch on the heart rates and arterial oxygen (O2) saturation levels of
36 preterm infants The infants were between 27—33 weeks gestational age at
birth, and were free of congenital defects infants were videotaped during parent
visits on up to three separate occasions during the first month of life Parents
were encouraged to interact with their infants as they usually would, and data on
the infants' heart rates and O^ saturation levels were recorded every 6 seconds
on a portable computer that was interfaced with the infants' monitors Mean O^
saturation levels were significantly lower during parent touch than during
baseline periods on 45% of the visits, and significantly higher during parent
touch periods on 19% of the visits Oj saturation variability was greater during
periods of parent touch, and there were more abnormal O^ saturation values
during parent touch than during baseline periods Mean heart rates during parent
touch were significantly lower compared to baseline on 17% of the visits, and
were higher during parent touch on 43% of the visits There were no overall
differences m mean heart rates between baseline, parent touch and post-visit
classifications, although heart rate variability was greater during periods of
parent touch The results indicate that preterm infants' responses to early parent
touch are variable, and suggest that blanket polices that limit parent touch
during the early weeks of life may not be appropriate It may he more
appropriate to teach parents to modify the types and amounts of touch they
provide based on the infants' physiologic and behavioral cues