title: Newly born low birthweight infants stabilise better in skin-to-skin contact than when separated from their mothers: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Chi Luong
authors: Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.|University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMPH), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors: Tien
authors: T
authors: Long Nguyen
authors: University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMPH), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors: Duy Huong
authors: DH
authors: Huynh Thi
authors: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
authors: Henri P O
authors: HP
authors: Carrara
authors: Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.|Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
authors: Nils J
authors: NJ
authors: Bergman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D060127:Kangaroo-Mother Care Method; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Premature neonates; Skin-to-skin contact; Stability; Transition period