Potential benefits and pitfalls of skin-to-skin contact transport from birth room to neonatal unit

Abstract Background: Early and repeated skin-to-skin contact (SSC) between infants and their parents during neonatal hospitalization has positive effects on maternal bonding, breastfeeding, parent-child interactions and preterm infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.Purpose: Transfers through SSC of newborn infants requiring intensive care over 300 meters between the birth room and neonatal unit have been implemented since 2018. The safety of SSC transfer with the infant’s father was questioned when compared to the more common transfer method in incubators.Methods: Singletons born from May to December 2019 at our three-level maternity ward that required intensive neonatal care were eligible. The infants’ axillary temperature, heart rate, and oxygen need were reported at four timepoints during transfer in an incubator or through SSC and at 30 minutes after arrival in the neonatal unit. Infant characteristics, blood gas, glycemia, time-lapse between birth and first SSC in the unit and feeding modes were also reported.Results: Median gestational age was higher in the SSC group (incubator (n=54): 32 weeks vs SSC (n=57): 36 weeks, p=.003). All infants requiring mechanical ventilation were transported in an incubator. A decrease in temperature was observed during incubator installation in the SSC group (incubator: 0°C vs SSC: -0.2°C, p< .001), but the first SSC in the unit was earlier in this group (incubator: 22 h vs SSC: 11 h, p= .001 and p= .008 after adjustment for gestational age). Implications for practice: Although thermal stability was compromised, encouraging results regarding the first SSC in the unit promote the continuation of SSC transfers.