This study addresses a gap in understanding the mechanisms linking parent-infant contact to biobehavioral responses. SSC activated OT release and decreased infant SC levels. Facilitation of SSC may be an effective intervention to reduce parent and infant stress in the NICU. Findings advance the exploration of OT as a potential moderator for improving responsiveness and synchrony in parent-infant interactions.

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Background Vulnerable preterm infants experience repeated and prolonged pain/stress stimulation during a critical period in their development while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The contribution of cumulative pain/stressors to altered neurodevelopment remains unclear. The study purpose was to investigate the impact of early life painful/stressful experiences on neurobehavioral outcomes of preterm infants in the NICU. Methods A prospective exploratory study was conducted with fifty preterm infants (28 0/7 – 32 6/7 weeks gestational age) recruited at birth and followed for four weeks. Cumulative pain/stressors (NICU Infant Stressor Scale) were measured daily and neurodevelopmental outcomes (NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale) were examined at 36-37 weeks post-menstrual age. Data analyses were conducted on the distribution of pain/stressors experienced over time and the linkages among pain/stressors and neurobehavioral outcomes. Results Preterm infants experienced a high degree of pain/stressors in the NICU, both in numbers of daily acute events (22.97±2.30 procedures) and cumulative times of chronic/stressful exposure (42.59±15.02 hours). Both acute and chronic pain/stress experienced during early life significantly contributed to the neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly in stress/abstinence (p < 0.05) and habituation responses (p < 0.01), meanwhile, direct breastfeeding and skin-to-skin holding were also significantly associated with habituation (p < 0.01 – 0.05). Conclusion Understanding mechanisms by which early life experience alters neurodevelopment will assist clinicians in developing targeted neuroprotective strategies and individualized interventions to improve infant developmental outcomes.

ObjectivesSocial relationships throughout lifespan are critical for health and wellbeing. Oxytocin, often called the ‘hormone of attachment’ has been suggested as playing an important role in early-life nurturing and resulting social bonding. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the associations between oxytocin levels and interactions between infants and parents that may trigger oxytocin release, and in turn facilitate attachments.MethodsA comprehensive cross-disciplinary systematic search was completed using electronic databases. The inclusion criteria included studies that focused on mother-infant and father-infant interaction and measured both baseline and post-interaction oxytocin levels.ResultsSeventeen studies were included in the final systematic review. The reviewed studies used mother-infant and/or father-infant play and skin-to-skin contact between maternal-infant and paternal-infant dyads to examine the oxytocin role in early life bonding and parenting processes. Studies showed a positive correlation between parent-infant contact and oxytocin levels in infancy period. Increased maternal oxytocin levels were significantly related to more affectionate contact behaviors in mothers following mother-infant contact, synchrony, and engagement. Meanwhile, increased paternal oxytocin levels were found to be related to more stimulatory contact behaviors in fathers following father-infant contact. Oxytocin levels significantly increased in infants, mothers and fathers during skin-to-skin contact and parents with higher oxytocin levels exhibited more synchrony and responsiveness in their infant interactions.ConclusionThe review suggests that oxytocin plays an important role in the development of attachment between infants and parents through early contact and interaction. The complexities of oxytocinergic mechanisms are rooted in neurobiological, genetic, and social factors.