A Pilot Randomized Control Trial of Holding During Hypothermia and Effects on Maternal and Infant Salivary Cortisol Levels.

Background: The lack of physical contact during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is challenging for parents of newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Holding is often avoided due to concerns for effects on infant temperature and for dislodging equipment.

Purpose: We assessed the effect of holding during TH on maternal and infant salivary cortisol levels and on infant vital signs.

Methods: Prospective crossover study with infants randomized to a 30-minute session of holding on day-2 versus day-3 of TH. "No-holding" occurred on the alternate day at the same time. Pre- and post-holding salivary cortisol levels were compared between holding and no-holding conditions. Vital signs were collected at 2-minute intervals. Data was analyzed using mixed-effects models.

Result: Thirty-four mothers and infants were recruited. The median gestational age was 39 weeks, 16 (94%) had moderate encephalopathy and all were on morphine during TH. Salivary cortisol levels decreased after holding for infants on day-2 ( P = .02) and mothers on day-2 and day-3 ( P = .01). Infants held on day-2, but not on day-3, had lower heart rates, respiratory rates, and mean arterial pressures. Temperature and oxygen saturations were stable on both days.

Implications for practice and research: We demonstrate positive effects of holding during TH as evidenced by lower salivary cortisol for both mother and infant and decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure for the infant on day-2. Further research is needed to replicate these results, to understand the lack of infant response on day-3 and to assess correlation with cumulative morphine exposure.