Skin-to-skin Contact in Healthy Term Infants

Short-term and Long-term Effects of Skin-to-skin Contact in Healthy Term Infants

This is a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial study to investigate short- and long-term effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact in healthy term infants, in order to provide supporting data for emphasizing mother-infant skin contact and family-centered care in South Korea.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Babies born at Korea University Anam Hospital
• Term infants (37 weeks or more)
• Infants with a birth weight of 2,500g or more
• Healthy infants with an Apgar score of 7 or higher at 5 minutes
• Mothers and infants without severe acute complications, such as requiring intensive care treatment immediately after delivery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preterm infants born at 37 weeks of less gestation
• Low birth weight infants weighing less than 2500g at birth
• Mothers under the age of 20
• Unmarried mothers
• Multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets)
• Parents do not consent to participation in the study