Implementing Skin-to-Skin Care in a Baby-Friendly Community Hospital

Abstract

Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Health First, Inc. Cape Canaveral Hospital, a Baby-Friendly facility since June 2000, launched a skin-to-skin initiative in 2009. An evidence-based practice protocol for placing newborns skin-toskin at birth and in the immediate postpartum period was incorporated into our labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum (LDRP) unit, and encouraged during the entirety of the postpartum stay. Staff nurses were educated in appropriate skin-toskin techniques and patient instruction, first in a small group interactive setting and later followed with a video and discussion format. Patient education pamphlets were distributed to women in labor and Kangaroo care shirts were loaned to new mothers during their hospital stay. Families were encouraged to attempt to keep their newborn skin-to-skin for up to 6 hours a day for the first week of life and a minimum of 2 hours a day for the second week through fourth week. Mothers were assured that anyone, e.g., fathers and grandmothers, can engage in the skin-to-skin care with the infant. Studies have reported benefits of skin-toskin care of the newborn to include reduced crying, improved mother–infant interaction, warmer babies, and greater breastfeeding success. Additional positive effects on neonatal self-regulation during the transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life include increased sleep, decreased apnea and bradycardia, improved respiration and oxygen saturation, accelerated weight gain, and, for the mother, increased milk production. The staff at Cape Canaveral Hospital has observed anecdotal evidence of these benefits.