Implementing Skin-to-Skin Care in a Baby-Friendly Community Hospital
Implementing Skin-to-Skin Care in a Baby-Friendly Community Hospital
Jennifer L. Reeg, MSN, RNC,
Health First Cape Canaveral
Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
Tracy Lott, RNC, BSN, MS,
Health First Cape Canaveral
Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
Keywords
Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin care, kangaroo care, newborn
Newborn Care
Poster Presentation
Purpose for the Program
To improve mother–infant attachment and breastfeeding.
Proposed Change
To implement skin-to-skin care in a baby friendly community hospital.
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,
Jennifer L. Reeg, MSN, RNC,
Health First Cape Canaveral
Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
Tracy Lott, RNC, BSN, MS,
Health First Cape Canaveral
Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
Keywords
Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin care, kangaroo care, newborn
Newborn Care
Poster Presentation
Purpose for the Program
To improve mother–infant attachment and breastfeeding.
Proposed Change
To implement skin-to-skin care in a baby friendly community hospital.
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,