Skin-to-Skin Care After Birth for Moderately Preterm Infants

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of skin-to-skin care after birth for moderately preterm infants.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: The study was conducted at the maternity wards and NICUs of three study sites in Norway.

Participants: Ninety preterm infants born vaginally with gestational ages of 32 weeks/0 days to 34 weeks/6 days.

Methods: Comparison of groups of preterm infants who received skin-to-skin care or conventional treatment in incubators after birth.

Results: Median gestational age and birth weight were similar in the two groups: 33 weeks/5 days versus 34 weeks/3 days (p = .464) and 2,100 versus 2,010 g (p = .519). There were no differences in the first body temperature (p = .841) and blood glucose level (p = .539) between the groups.

Conclusion: Early skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room for moderately preterm infants may be feasible and safe.