The Effect of the Facilitated Tucking after Vaginal Delivery on Stress, Comfort, and Physiological Parameters of Late Preterm: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Vaginal delivery may cause stress for all newborns; therefore, it is the responsibility of nurses to provide physiologic stability and first care of the preterm after birth. This study aimed to examine the effect of facilitated tucking (FT) after vaginal deliveries on stress, comfort, and physiologic parameters of late preterm infants.Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted with late preterm infants. The sample size was calculated using a computer program. A total of 60 preterm infants were included in the study, assigned to the FT group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). A newborn information and registration form, the Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale (NCBS), and the Newborn Stress Scale (NSS) were used to collect data.Results: The mean NSS score was lower in the FT group and preterm infants showed less stress symptoms; however, the difference was not significant. The mean NCBS score was statistically significantly lower in the FT group, showing that the preterm babies were more comfortable in this group.Conclusion: It was determined that FT, which is one of the individualized developmental care practices, provides physiologic stability, comfort, and reduced stress for late preterm infants after vaginal deliveries.