Early skin-to-skin contact or incubator for very preterm infants: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Skin-to-skin care immediately following delivery is a common practice for term infants and has been shown to improve cardiorespiratory stability, facilitate early bonding, and promote breastfeeding. Since 2007, the use of skin-to-skin care has been practiced for preterm infants from 32 weeks of gestation in the delivery room at St. Olav's University Hospital. In the present study we aim to investigate whether skin-to-skin care following delivery is safe, and how it affects early and late outcomes compared to standard care for very preterm infants.

Methods/design

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of skin-to-skin care in the delivery room for very preterm infants born at gestational age 28⁰-31⁶ weeks with birth weight >1000 grams. Infants wit

SUBMITTER: Kristoffersen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5153813 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature