Early SSC for Preterm Neonates
Trial question
What is the effect of immediate skin-to-skin contact with mother on cognitive development in preterm neonates?
Study design
Multi-center
Open label
RCT
Population
Characteristics of study participants
37.0% female
63.0% male
N = 108
108 patients (40 female, 68 male).
Inclusion criteria: neonates born at gestational age of 28 weeks 0 days to 31 weeks 6 days with birth weight > 1,000 g.
Key exclusion criteria: need for > 40% oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation > 90% at 20 minutes of life; need for intubation and mechanical ventilation in the delivery room; major congenital malformations; maternal general anesthesia.
Interventions
N=51 skin-to-skin contact (immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant in the deliver room for 2 hours).
N=57 usual care (transport to the neonatal unit in an incubator immediately after birth).
Primary outcome
Cognitive development at 2-3 years of age, measured by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition mean score
99.6 points
99.4 points
99.6 points
74.7 points
49.8 points
24.9 points
0.0 points
Skin-to-skin
contact
Usual
care
No significant
difference ↔
No significant difference in cognitive development at 2-3 years of age, measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition mean score (99.6 points vs. 99.4 points; MD 0.21, 95% CI -5.26 to 5.68).
Secondary outcomes
No significant difference in the rate of risk of development delay at 2-3 years (51% vs. 49%; OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.47 to 2.56).
No significant difference in Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition-motor neurodevelopment mean score at 2-3 years of age (95.7 points vs. 97.4 points; MD -1.71, 95% CI -7.3 to 3.87).
Significant increase in breastfeeding at hospital discharge (84% vs. 67%; AD 17%, 95% CI 0.75 to 33.25).
Conclusion
In neonates born at gestational age of 28 weeks 0 days to 31 weeks 6 days with birth weight > 1,000 g, skin-to-skin contact was not superior to usual care with respect to cognitive development at 2-3 years of age, measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition mean score.
Reference
Laila Kristoffersen, Ragnhild Støen, Håkon Bergseng et al. Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact in Very Preterm Neonates and Early Childhood Neurodevelopment: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Apr 1;8(4):e255467.
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