Holding hope: study tests Skin-to-Skin contact during infant cooling therapy

NCT ID NCT03079284

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether mothers can safely hold their infants while they undergo therapeutic hypothermia (cooling) for a brain injury called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Ten infants were enrolled, and mothers held them for 30 minutes under careful monitoring. The goal was to see if holding increased risks like accidental rewarming or tube dislodgement, and to measure how it affected maternal stress and bonding.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Holding during cooling (a procedure where mothers hold their infants during hypothermia treatment)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that holding is safe and may reduce stress and improve bonding for mothers and infants during cooling treatment.

What could go wrong

This is a very small safety study with only 10 infants, so results may not apply to all. There is a risk of accidental rewarming or dislodged medical tubes.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain hypoxia - ischemia perinatal asphyxia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Maine Medical Center

    Portland, Maine, 04102, United States