Pilot study demonstrates that salivary oxytocin can be measured unobtrusively in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the feasibility and obtrusiveness of measuring salivary oxytocin in preterm infants receiving Kangaroo care, because this is a period of maximal bonding or co-regulation. We also analysed possible influential determinants, including maternal oxytocin.


METHODS
The saliva of preterm infants and their mothers was collected prior to, and during, Kangaroo care using cotton swabs and pooled into vials until sufficient volumes were obtained to measure oxytocin levels using a radioimmunoassay. The obtrusiveness of the infants' collections was measured with a Likert scale.


RESULTS
Saliva was collected unobtrusively prior to, and during, 30 Kangaroo care sessions in 21 preterm infants. This resulted in three vials with sufficient volumes of before-Kangaroo care saliva and three with during-Kangaroo care saliva. Oxytocin was detectable in all six vials. The Kangaroo care duration and the intensity of the mother-infant interaction before and during Kangaroo care seemed to be the most important determinants, and these should preferably be standardised in any future trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxytocin was measured unobtrusively in the pooled saliva of preterm infants both before and during Kangaroo care and could therefore be investigated as a biomarker in future studies.
Department of Neonatology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.|Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
D R
DR
Kommers
Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Mac
M
Broeren
Department of Neonatology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
P
P
Andriessen
Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.|Department of Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
S G
SG
Oei
Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
L
L
Feijs
Department of Neonatology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.|Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
S
S
Bambang Oetomo
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D060127:Kangaroo-Mother Care Method; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010121:Oxytocin
Bonding; Co-regulation; Kangaroo care; Oxytocin; Preterm infants
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