A descnptive exploratory design was used m tins study to evaluate the effects of
eariy parent touch on the heart rates and arterial oxygen (O^) saturation leveis of
36 preterm mfants The infants were between 27—33 weeks gestationai age at
birth, and were free of congenital defects infants were videotaped dunng parent
visits on up to tiiree separate occasions dunng the first month of life Parents
were encouraged to mteract with their infants as they usually wouid, and data on
the infants' heart rates and O^ saturahon ieveis were recorded every 6 seconds
on a portabie computer that was mterfaced with the infants' monitors Mean O^
saturation leveis were significantly lower dunng parent touch than dunng
baseline periods on 45% of the visits, and significantly iugher dunng parent
touch penods on 19% of the visits Oj saturation vanabihty was greater dunng
penods of parent touch, and there were more abnormal O^ saturation values
dunng parent touch than during baseline penods Mean heart rates dunng parent
touch were significantly lower compared to baseline on 17% of the visits, and
were higlier dunng parent toudi on 43% of the visits There were no overall
differences m mean heart rates i>etween baseime, parent touch and post-visit
ciassificahons, aithough heart rate vanabihty was greater dunng penods of
parent touch iThe results mdicate that preterm infants' responses to eariy parent
touch are variable, and suggest that blanket poiiaes that limit parent touch
dunng the eariy weeks of life may not b>e appropnate It may he more
appropnate to teach parents to modify the types and amounts of touch they
provide based on the infants' physiologic and behavioural cues