Cortisol and blood pressure levels decreased in fathers during the first hour of skin-to-skin contact with their premature babies

Abstract

Aim: Premature birth is an extremely stressful experience. In 2013 to 2014, we explored the physiological stress responses of fathers during their first skin-to-skin contact (SSC) with their new baby.

Methods: We recruited 49 fathers whose partners had given birth to a premature baby of up to 33 weeks and three days. The study, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a Quebec hospital, measured the physiological stress responses of the fathers before and after they first experienced SSC with their new baby. Cortisol levels and blood pressure were measured, and a generalised estimating equation was used for the data analysis.

Results: The fathers' cortisol levels decreased from 10.55 nmol/L, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 9.61-11.59 at the beginning of the experiment to 8.26 nmol/L (95% CI: 7.51-9.07) after 75 minutes. Meanwhile, their systolic blood pressure decreased from 135.16 mmHg (95% CI: 130-140) to 125.25 mmHg (95% CI: 121-129).

Conclusion: Fathers who held their baby in SSC for the first time showed a significant reduction in physiological stress responses. Our findings support hospital practices that enable fathers to experience their first intimate contact with their newborn infant in the NICU.

Keywords: Cortisol; Father; Physiological stress; Premature baby; Skin-to-skin contact.