Maintaining parent-infant skin-to-skin contact during peripheral intravenous catheter insertion in a Dutch neonatal unit

Peripheral intravenous cannulation is a widespread and often repeated experience for infants nursed in a neonatal unit. The procedure, involving pain and discomfort for the infant and anxiety for the parents, is associated with increased exposure to physiological and emotional stress. These stresses can adversely affect parent satisfaction, emotional well-being, and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Interventions such as kangaroo mother care and skin-to-skin contact reduce overall stress experiences for parents and their infants and improve long-term outcomes. The practice challenge is ensuring the continuity of these supportive interventions during medical procedures that have traditionally interrupted parent-infant contact. This article provides a comprehensive overview of one Dutch neonatal unit's approach toward maintaining parent-infant skin-to-skin care during routine peripheral intravenous catheter insertion.