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Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact in Very Preterm Neonates and Early Childhood Neurodevelopment: A Randomized Clinical
Laila Kristoffersen1,2, Ragnhild Støen1,3, Håkon Bergseng1
1Department of Neonatology, St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
JAMA Network Open
|April 16, 2025
Summary
Immediate skin-to-skin contact (SSC) for preterm infants did not improve neurodevelopmental outcomes by age 3. However, SSC did increase breastfeeding rates, suggesting its continued use in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Perinatal medicine
Background:
- Preterm neonates face risks of neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Identifying protective factors for the developing brain is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if immediate skin-to-skin contact (SSC) improves neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
- To evaluate the impact of SSC on cognitive, language, and motor development.
Main Methods:
- An open-label randomized clinical trial involving preterm neonates (28-31 weeks gestation).
- Intervention: 2 hours of immediate SSC in the delivery room versus standard care.
- Primary outcome: cognitive development assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) at 2-3 years.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in cognitive composite scores between SSC and standard care groups (mean difference 0.21, P=.94).
- Proportion at risk of developmental delay was similar between groups (51% vs 49%, P=.83).
- The SSC group showed significantly higher rates of breastfeeding at hospital discharge (84% vs 67%, P=.04).
Conclusions:
- Immediate SSC for 2 hours in the delivery room did not enhance neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
- SSC improved breastfeeding practices, supporting its recommendation for clinical use.
- Further research may explore longer durations or different timings for SSC interventions.
