Acute effects of maternal skin-to-skin contact and massage on saliva cortisol in preterm babies

Saliva samples were obtained from clinically stable preterm babies in a low dependency unit, pre and 20 minutes post a 20 minute intervention of maternal skin-to-skin contact, or massage, or a control period. Eleven pre and post skin-to-skin contact, 13 pre and post massage and 16 pre and post a control period samples were obtained. There was no change in the control period. A 20 minute period of maternal skin-to-skin contact caused a consistent and significant reduction in infant saliva cortisol levels; the effects of massage were more variable.