Holding during therapeutic hypothermia aims to reduce stress and boost bonding in mother-infant pairs

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. While life-saving, current protocols often prevent mothers from holding their babies during treatment, leading to significant maternal stress. This lack of physical contact also deprives both mother and infant of the well-established psychological and physical benefits of holding, creating a critical gap in holistic care during a vulnerable period. This study explores if integrating holding can mitigate these adverse psychosocial effects.

This study proposes an intervention where mothers hold their infants during therapeutic hypothermia treatment. Investigators will collect saliva samples from both mothers and infants before and after holding sessions. These samples will be tested for cortisol, a key biomarker for stress, and oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding. The primary objective is to measure changes in these salivary hormone levels to determine the impact of physical contact during this critical medical intervention.