Effect on Early Somatic Growth of a Daily Kinesthetic Stimulation on Preterm Infants

Effect on Early Somatic Growth of a Daily Kinesthetic Stimulation on Preterm Infants Either In Kangaroo Position or in Incubator: A Randomized Control Trial

Kangaroo position (KP), the essential component of the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method, has been increasingly implemented, given the benefits of early skin-to-skin contact on the cerebral maturation of preterm infants. In addition it allows for parents to bond with their infants and humanize the care of fragile infants in neonatal units. Evidence on kinesthetic stimulation (KS) is scarce and currently there is no available evidence on KS during the KP. KS is associated with massage in this paper

The objective is to study the impact of standardized KS delivered either in KP (KSKP) or in an incubator (KSI) on the early growth of very preterm infants.

Patients and methods: Sixty six newborns ≤32 weeks of gestational age at birth received KS delivered 3 times/day during KP or in an incubator. They were randomized when the infants were considered eligibleto initiate KMC which was part of the routine care for all newborns in the Neonatal Care Unit (NCU). The primary outcome were the weight gain (g/kg/day) between randomization, 5, and 15 days after the start of the intervention and weight at 40 weeks of gestational age (term). The secondary outcomes were the same measures according to the chronological age (days of life) of the infant at randomization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Preterm infants (GA ≤33 weeks of gestation)
• Deemed clinically stable and eligible for the KMC intervention by the neonatologist were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants with congenital anomalies
• Unstable during the first 15 days of life