Parent–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact Following Birth: History, Benefits, and Challenges
Abstract
A bstract: It is a practice with strong roots in nature and has a significant influence on health outcomes, particularly for at-risk newborns in low-resource settings. In this comprehensive review, benefits of SSC for newborns, mothers, and fathers after vaginal and cesarean births are discussed as well as the benefits of SSC observed for infants in the NICU. Barriers to SSC practice implementation are discussed, and proposed solutions and recommendations are offered. By understanding the many benefits of SSC and strategies for implementation, health care providers can best support and promote this high-quality, evidence-based practice with mothers, newborns, and their families.
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Practical concerns that may complicate provision of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean birth include lack of a standardized protocol, nursing staff availability, maternal or neonatal instability, type of anesthetic, support from anesthesia, clinician education, and practice and behaviour changes in a busy clinical environment.
“other practical concerns that may complicate the provision of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean birth include the lack of a standardized protocol,32 nursing staff availability,33 maternal or neonatal instability,34 type of anesthetic,35 support from anesthesia, 35 clinician education,32 and the challenge of practice and behaviour changes in a busy clinical environment.25”
From Women’s experiences of skin-to-skin cesarean birth compared to standard cesarean birth: a qualitative study (2021) · cites this paper as [34]
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Machold, C. A., O’Rinn, S. E., McKellin, W. H., Ballantyne, G., & Barrett, J. F. R. (2021) · CMAJ Open · doi:10.9778/cmajo.20200079 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Hubbard, J. M., & Gattman, K. R.
- Venue
- Neonatal Network
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2017
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 89-97
- ISSN
- 0730-0832 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-2880
- OpenAlex
- W2597808020
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neonatal Network The Journal of Neonatal Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- skin-to-skin contact, kangaroo mother care, parent-infant bonding, neonatal outcomes, high-risk infants, resource-limited settings, vaginal delivery, cesarean section, neonatal intensive care, implementation barriers, fathers, maternal health
- MeSH terms
- Breast Feeding, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Postnatal Care, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Touch, Kangaroo-Mother Care Method
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