Implementing skin-to-skin contact at birth using the Iowa model: applying evidence to practice.
Prolonged skin-to-skin contact (SSC) between mothers and newborns in the hour after birth is associated with physiologic and psychological benefits for both mothers and infants, yet this is not a standard practice at all birthing facilities. The purpose of the project described in this article was to implement SSC immediately aft er birth for healthy term newborns as a routine, evidence-based practice in a labor and delivery unit at a Midwestern U.S. academic medical center. When incorporated into routine newborn care, SSC promotes key maternal-infant health outcomes of importance to quality nursing care.
Women’s Health and Obstetrics at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Elkhorn, WI, USA.
Dawn
D
Haxton
Jennifer
J
Doering
Linda
L
Gingras
Lucy
L
Kelly
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007484:Iowa; D060127:Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / Q000379:methods*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009769:Object Attachment; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology