Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Tactile stimulation and newborn heart rate responses in the delivery room: an observational video study
Authors' conclusion
Tactile stimulation is widely applied during neonatal transition. We observed an increase in HR in relation to tactile stimulation, especially among newborns with HR <140 bpm at start stimulation. Newborns with bradycardia (HR <100 bpm ≥10 s) in the first minute after birth had a four-fold likelihood of requiring PPV versus tactile stimulation alone.
Study context
- Population
- Newborns with gestational age ≥34 weeks at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, September 2022-July 2024included newborns had thermal videos ± visible light video and HR data
- Participants
- 449 newborns
- Exposure
- Bradycardia (HR <100 beats per minute (bpm) ≥10 s) in the first minute after birth and the need for positive pressure ventilation (PPV) versus stimulation alone
- No resuscitative interventionsn = 70
- Stimulation alonen = 345
- Continuous positive airway pressuren = 14
- PPVn = 20
- Outcome
- Resuscitative interventions received
Methodological detailstertiary level, thermal videos, dry-electrode ECG
- Tertiary level
- Thermal videos
- Dry-electrode ECG
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Requiring PPV versus tactile stimulation alone, by bradycardia in the first minute after birth
| Comparison | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradycardia in the first minute after birth | 4.81 (1.39–15.3) | P = 0.009 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
- Requiring PPV versus tactile stimulation alone, by bradycardia in the first minute after birth: odds of requiring PPV versus tactile stimulation alone; higher with bradycardia (four-fold likelihood)
HR increase with stimulation among newborns with HR <140 bpm at start stimulation
- HR increase, median
- 7 bpm
- p
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Tactile stimulation and newborn heart rate responses in the delivery room: an observational video study. Resuscitation. Published 21 May 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it