Association Between Skin-to-Skin Care, Mood, and Lactation in Mothers of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Skin-to-skin care (SSC) for premature infants provides numerous health benefits, including reduced mortality and improved maternal attachment. However, limited research exists on the relationship between SSC duration, maternal mood states, and lactation outcomes in mothers of very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants.

This study aimed to examine the associations between SSC duration, maternal mood states, and lactation outcomes pumped mother's own milk (MOM) volume and lactation duration. During the first 6 weeks postpartum in mothers of VLBW infants.

This was a secondary analysis of existing data from a randomized controlled trial of 180 mothers of VLBW infants ≤32 weeks gestation and ≤1500 g. In the parent study, researchers recorded SSC episodes and duration, while the maternal mood state was evaluated using the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist-Revised questionnaire. Statistical analyses utilized linear mixed-effect and general linear models, adjusting for various confounders.

There was no independent association between total SSC minutes during the first and second 3-week periods postpartum and either positive or negative mood scores. SSC duration was positively associated with pumped MOM volume ( β  = .001, 95% CI [0.0005, 0.002]; P = .0004). A significant positive association was also found between time spent in SSC and lactation duration ( β  = .01, 95% CI [0.0004, 0.02]; P = .04). No significant associations were found between mood states and lactation outcomes.

This study underscores the importance of encouraging SSC to enhance maternal mental health and lactation outcomes, particularly for mothers of VLBW infants.