Oxytocin levels in the saliva of preterm infant twins during Kangaroo care

Background and purpose: To investigate whether Kangaroo care (KC) influences the salivary oxytocin (OT) concentration in preterm infants, and which correlates affect the OT response. Methods: Eleven twin pairs participated in a study in which we collected saliva using cotton swabs twice a day, once during KC and once during baseline conditions (lying in bed or incubator). The total study duration was five days. The saliva of twin siblings were pooled to obtain vials with sufficient volumes of either saliva collected during KC or at baseline. OT levels were measured using a radio-immuno assay. The infants' state of comfort and parent-infant interaction were examined using previously developed Likert-scales, amongst other correlates such as the KC duration, gestational age and birth weight. Results: During KC, OT was lower compared to baseline (mean 1.39 pg/ml (SD 0.58 pg/ml) versus 2.40 pg/ml (SD 1.64 pg/ml), p = 0.03). Comfort at baseline and parent-infant interaction seemed to influence OT responses. Conclusion: The OT concentration in the pooled saliva of preterm infant twins decreased during KC. This response of the OT system might be explained by stress during baseline.