Evidence-Based Practice Report: Impact of Skin-to-Skin Contact

This report examines the evidence-based practices surrounding skin-to-skin contact for newborns. It analyzes several research articles, including studies on barriers and enablers to skin-to-skin contact, kangaroo mother care definitions, the effects of early skin-to-skin contact on breastfeeding and infant transition, and the impact of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean births. The report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each study, providing insights into the benefits of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for both mothers and newborns. It also explores the potential risks and outcomes associated with skin-to-skin care, offering a comprehensive overview of the topic. The report aims to provide sufficient evidence for practice change by identifying potential problems and solutions related to skin-to-skin contact implementation, emphasizing its importance in various types of births and its impact on maternal and infant well-being.

Running head: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTISE 1
Evidence-Based Practise
Name
Institution

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTISE 2
Evidence-Based Practise
Alenchery, A. J., Thoppil, J., Britto, C. D., de Onis, J. V., Fernandez, L., & Rao, P. S.
(2018). Barriers and enablers to skin-to-skin contact at birth in healthy neonates-a
qualitative study. BMC pediatrics, 18(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-
1033-y
This research determines the barriers, enablers as well as the solutions for the
implementation of skin to skin contact in healthy newborn infants by determining the influence
of the interaction between the mother and infant based on daily life experiences, experiences
before the theory and specific phenomenal experiences. This article may provide sufficient
evidence for my practice change because it identifies the problems that I am likely to encounter
during my practice as well as the solutions to these problems. The strength of this article is that it
provides qualitative results, a study that has never been conducted before, and the weakness is
that the study group is homogenous thus limiting the identification of the issues.
Chan, G. J., Valsangkar, B., Kajeepeta, S., Boundy, E. O., & Wall, S. (2016). What is
kangaroo mother care? Systematic review of the literature. Journal of global
health, 6(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.7189%2Fjogh.06.010701
This journal discusses the distinctive definitions of kangaroo mother contact between the
mother and the newborn child in different settings by analyzing the present and absent
components in each definition using the current literature. This journal may provide sufficient
evidence for my practice change because it will help me understand the difference between
kangaroo, other contact and skin to skin contact hence applying the right knowledge in the right
environment. One strength of this journal is that it acknowledges the need of having a clear

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTISE 3
definition of kangaroo other contact while its weakness is that it relies on the existing literature
hence the need for new research.
Moore, E. R., Bergman, N., Anderson, G. C., & Medley, N. (2016). Early skin‐to‐skin
contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane database of
systematic Reviews, (11). doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub4
This journal examines if skin to skin contact enhances breastfeeding immediately and
improves the transition in the outside world for babies by evaluating different databases and
existing literature so as to analyze the findings. This journal may provide sufficient evidence for
my practice change because it highlights the primary and secondary outcomes of the study. One
strength of this journal is that the study was conducted in a diverse range of settings hence higher
chances of accuracy and one weakness is that it does determine the existence of differential
effects of timing or skin to skin contact dose.
Moran-Peters, J. A., Zauderer, C. R., Goldman, S., Baierlein, J., & Smith, A. E. (2014). A
quality improvement project focused on women's perceptions of skin-to-skin contact
after cesarean birth. Nursing for women's health, 18(4), 294-303.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-486X.12135
This project evaluates the implications of the unavailability of skin to skin contact
between the mother and the newborn infant after a caesarean section by identifying the barriers
and solutions to the barriers to performing skin to skin contact immediately following a child
birth despite the mode of delivery. This journal may provide sufficient evidence to my research
practice because it explores the disparity of skin to skin contact based on the type of childbirth.
One strength of this journal is that it is a qualitative evaluation of the intervention and one

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTISE 4
weakness is that data saturation may have not been achieved since the study involved a few
number of people.
Phillips, R. (2013). The sacred hour: Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact immediately after
birth. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 13(2), 67-72.
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2013.04.001
This article explores the benefits of early skin to skin contact between the mother and the
newborn baby by giving in-depth information on the essence of early and continuous skin to skin
contact may present to both the mother and newborn baby. This journal may provide sufficient
evidence to my research practice because it identifies how interrupted skin to skin contact is vital
in any type of birth. One strength of this journal is that it explores different types of birth while
one weakness is that it does not identify the barriers that may hinder skin to skin contact.
Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E., & Dahlen, H. (2014). Immediate or early skin‐to‐skin
contact after a C aesarean section: a review of the literature. Maternal & child
nutrition, 10(4), 456-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12128\
This journal evaluates evidence on the facilitation of immediate or early skin to skin
contact after a caesarean section in healthy new mothers and infants by identifying the maternal
and infant outcomes as well as the barriers that may be encountered. This journal may provide
sufficient evidence to my research practice because it identifies the potential risks of skin to skin
care by providing quality assessment. One strength of this journal is that it explores the need of
uninterrupted skin to skin contact in the theater while the weakness is that it does not determine
the long term and short-term outcomes.

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTISE 5
References
Alenchery, A. J., Thoppil, J., Britto, C. D., de Onis, J. V., Fernandez, L., & Rao, P. S. (2018).
Barriers and enablers to skin-to-skin contact at birth in healthy neonates-a qualitative
study. BMC pediatrics, 18(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1033-y
Chan, G. J., Valsangkar, B., Kajeepeta, S., Boundy, E. O., & Wall, S. (2016). What is kangaroo
mother care? Systematic review of the literature. Journal of global health, 6(1).
https://dx.doi.org/10.7189%2Fjogh.06.010701
Moore, E. R., Bergman, N., Anderson, G. C., & Medley, N. (2016). Early skin‐to‐skin contact
for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane database of systematic Reviews,
(11). doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub4
Moran-Peters, J. A., Zauderer, C. R., Goldman, S., Baierlein, J., & Smith, A. E. (2014). A quality
improvement project focused on women's perceptions of skin-to-skin contact after
cesarean birth. Nursing for women's health, 18(4), 294-303.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-486X.12135
Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E., & Dahlen, H. (2014). Immediate or early skin‐to‐skin
contact after a C aesarean section: a review of the literature. Maternal & child
nutrition, 10(4), 456-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12128\