The researchers suggest that providing structured education to parents will increase the duration of skin-to-skin contact (SSC), thereby enhancing infant care practices. The aim of this research was to identify a breastfeeding education program for parents and medical professionals that may increase the amount of time newborns spend in skin-to-skin contact. Since the 1970s, the advantages of SSC between mothers and newborns have been acknowledged. Early research showed that SSC improved the relationship between mother and infant at both 36 hours and 3 years, with early and long-term nursing care.
There is currently little evidence-based guidance on how to establish and maintain SSC in full-term newborns, although the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend a minimum of one hour after giving birth. Both baseline and intervention assessments are included in this study’s quasi-experimental intervention approach. Newborns delivered between 37+0 and 42+0 weeks of gestation were included in the study.
Two regions of Sweden were selected for the study based on their unique sociodemographic characteristics, along with one maternity hospital in each region. The small hospital integrated the labour and postnatal wards, while the large hospital had separate wards for each. Following the baby’s birth, data were collected using equipment that was provided to the parents’ homes for sporadic follow-ups during the first year of life. Written and verbal consent was obtained from the parents, and they were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without providing a reason.
The parental training package included a postpartum film, visual aids, and prenatal class materials. Healthcare providers participated in a training session that included case studies, group discussions, and eight short online lectures with self-assessment quizzes. Fourteen different surveys are provided to parents for one to five times over the first year of the baby’s life as part of the Breastfeeding Study’s data collection process. Any differences in background variables between the baseline and intervention groups were evaluated by using independent t-tests and a chi-square test.
The recruitment phases resulted in the birth of 1218 families. Out of which 447 did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 521 of the 773 eligible participants consented to participate in the study. The co-parents’ average age was slightly higher at 34, and the mothers’ average age was around 32. The average SSC time with the mother on the first day increased from 12.9 hours in the baseline group to 14.6 hours in the intervention group (p = 0.009) according to 211 parents who maintained a diary. The percentage of infants with constant SSC touch has increased from 33% to 58% (p = 0.001), according to the new records.
The aim was to determine whether the help of focused training for parents and HCPs may successfully extend the duration of SSC in the first two days after giving birth. This study highlighted the successful application of SSC in both vaginal and caesarean births, which is in line with current recommendations that support uninterrupted SSC regardless of delivery method. The observed results suggest potential long-term advantages in the development of the baby, providing useful information to enhance postnatal care.
Reference: Wickström M, Oras P, Lundgren M, Funkquist E-L. Providing education about skin-to-skin contact significantly increased duration of skin-to-skin contact for newborns. Acta Paediatr. 2025:1–7. doi:10.1111/apa.70219
