Premature babies benefit from direct skin contact

Two hours of skin contact between premature infants and mothers can significantly increase breastfeeding rates without affecting long-term development, according to a new study challenging standard hospital practice.

The study found that 84% of infants with immediate exposure who were very prematurely born were breastfeeded at discharge, while only 67% received routine incubator care.

The findings came from a six-year randomized trial involving 108 babies between 28 and 32 weeks pregnant in three Norwegian hospitals. Although the study found no difference in cognitive or motor development between 2 and 3 years old, the benefits of breastfeeding lasted for a full year.

Challenge the hospital separation program

“The first few hours after birth are an early sensitive period,” said Laila Kristoffersen, associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology who led the research team.

Currently, most hospitals immediately separate premature babies from their mothers for medical services. “Since medical care is often required after birth, the standard practice is to place it in an incubator and transfer it to a neonatal intensive care unit,” explains Kristoffersen. This separation can last for hours or even days.

Research design and safety measures

The researchers randomly assigned the baby to breast-to-breast contact with the mother, or standard incubator care. Only babies with weights that do not require 1000 grams are included in ensuring safety during the groundbreaking program, thus ensuring safety.

During skin contact, place the baby between the mother’s breasts, with arms and legs bent and head slightly raised to maintain a clear airway. Medical monitoring continued throughout the two hours.

Main research results

• 84% of skin-to-skin babies are breastfeeded at discharge, while 67% in standard care
• Exclusive breastfeeding lasts longer
• Still breastfeeding at 12 months and 26% of the control group
• There is no difference in cognitive or motor development between 2 and 3 years old
• No immediate safety issues or complications

The study specifically examines very premature babies born at 28-32 weeks of gestation, a vulnerable population who are often at risk of delayed development. Surprisingly, both groups scored within the normal range in standardized developmental tests, suggesting that in high-resource medical settings, most premature babies usually appear regardless of early exposure.

Hidden research details reveal broader meanings

One detail not highlighted in the press release: The research team had to stop enrollment early after six years because they believed that “continued randomization and thus hindered direct maternal neural SSC.” This suggests that the evidence for welfare became striking enough that denying contact felt inappropriate.

The study also shows that mothers themselves strongly want early exposure. “Mothers say having a baby after birth is important on the chest and promotes a sense of security and coping,” Christopherson noted.

The impact of global health

The study is consistent with the latest recommendations from the World Health Organization, which recommends that all premature babies come into contact with skin as soon as possible after birth. This represents a significant shift in the philosophy of neonatal care from a separation-centered approach to a comprehensive family approach.

The Norwegian St. Olaf Hospital, which conducted the study, implemented these programs permanently after the end of 2020. Now, the hospital promotes immediate contact of babies born as early as 28 weeks of pregnancy, 12 weeks before the due date.

Christofson concluded: “When of course, the positive effect of skin contact between mother and baby is accepted when the baby is born. There are good reasons why we should offer the same opportunity for vulnerable premature babies.”

The results show that although direct skin contact may not significantly alter the developmental trajectory, interventions provide meaningful benefits for successful breastfeeding and maternal combinations that may affect long-term health exotics in ways that are not captured by standard cognitive assessments.

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