Newly born low birthweight infants stabilise better in skin-to-skin contact than when separated from their mothers: a randomised controlled trial.

AIM: Routine care of low birthweight (LBW) neonates relies on incubators for stabilisation. An earlier study suggested that skin-to-skin contact achieves better physiological stability in the transition period when compared to incubator care. The aim of this study was to replicate that study with a larger sample.

METHODS: A randomised controlled trial with LBW infants (1500-2500 g) randomised at birth, 50 to routine care and 50 to skin-to-skin contact, with stabilisation using the Stability of Cardio-Respiratory system in Preterms (SCRIP) score measured repeatedly over the first six hours of life as the primary outcome.

RESULTS: Newly born infants in skin-to-skin contact showed better transition to extra-uterine life (p < 0.02), with the SCRIP score at 360 minutes in skin-to-skin contact being 5.82 (SD 0.66) and in maternal infant separation 5.24 (SD 0.72), p < 0.0001. In extended skin-to-skin contact care, infants had significantly less need for respiratory support, intravenous fluids and antibiotic use during the remainder of the hospital stay.

CONCLUSION: Skin-to-skin contact was likely to be an optimal environment for neonates without life-threatening conditions who weighed 1500-2500 g at birth. By preventing instability that requires subsequent medical treatment, it may be life-saving in low-income countries.