title: Neonatal responsiveness to the odor of amniotic fluid.
abstract: This study evaluated the neonatal responsiveness to the odor of amniotic fluid during the first hours of life. Twenty five newborn infants born by C-section at 36-40 weeks of gestation were evaluated with 1; 5 or 25 drops of amniotic fluid at 1 hour, 3.5 hours and 6 hours of life. A five stimuli habituation plan was used and global motor activity was recorded. Mixed-design ANOVAs for repeated measures demonstrated time differences and showed the highest reactivity at 1 hour, a reduction at 3.5 hours and a recovery at 6 hours (p < 0.0000). Maximum response was observed at the beginning, with a subsequent reduction (p < 0.0088). T tests were used to compare mean differences from baseline to the stimulation period. It was observed that one drop was enough to trigger a response, even at 6 hours of life (p = 0.045). Apparently, babies are able to detect minimum amounts of amniotic fluid and habituate the response with repeated exposure during their first hours of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Division of Child Evolutionary Psychology, Hospital Universitario de Maternidad y Neonatología.
authors.forename: Ana Eugenia
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Faas
authors.forename: Carlos Fabián
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Resino
authors.forename: Pedro Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Moya
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*