Body Temperature Changes, Breast Feeding
Conditions
Keywords
Skin-to-skin, Kangaroo Care, Kangaroo Mother Care
Brief summary
This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a skin-to-skin facilitating garment used by mother-infant dyads. It has three phases including researcher observation, randomised controlled trialing and qualitative midwifery staff perspective. The research will determine the effect a facilitating garment has in comparison to conventionally facilitated skin-to-skin contact, by measuring its effect on the baby's temperature stability, breastfeeding status and weight velocity.
Detailed description
Skin-to-skin contact is used as part of a package of Kangaroo Mother Care across the world. This has been demonstrated to reduce neonatal morbidity, mortality, and inpatient stays for low birth weight and preterm infants (Charpak and Ruiz 2016). This study examines the effect a facilitating garment, the Snuby® has on neonatal health outcomes associated with skin-to-skin contact, such as neonatal thermoregulation, breastfeeding status, and self-reported mother-infant bonding. It uses a mixed methods approach to address quantitative and qualitative outcomes including participant's perspectives, and measurable health markers.
Interventions
DEVICEskin-to-skin facilitating garment
Fabric garment designed to accommodate term neonates having skin-to-skin contact.
Sponsors
Birmingham City University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Maternal participants Inclusion Criteria: Women, non-binary and transgender participants. Aged 16+ years old. Vaginal birth, including ventouse, forceps and spontaneous vaginal birth. 28+ weeks pregnant. Body Mass Index of 18 to 30 inclusive. Births between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy. Women without any morbidities that will significantly impair their ability to independently parent their baby. Women planning to give birth on the labour ward, co-located birth centre, standalone birth centre or at home.
Exclusion criteria
Caesarean section births. High dependency Unit patients. Illiterate in English. Multiple pregnancies e.g. twins. Registered child protection concerns. Substance misusing women. Body Mass Index of less than 18 at booking appointment. Body Mass Index of more than 30 at booking appointment. Aged under 16 years old. Neonatal participants Inclusion criteria: Born 37 to 42 completed weeks gestation. Birth weight between 2500g and 4000g . Weight at six weeks of age less than 6000g. Neonates requiring blood glucose prefeed monitoring. From birth to six weeks of age.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Abnormal neonatal temperature | Following 30 minutes of skin-to-skin contact, in both Intervention and Control groups. | Axillary temperature taken by the mother with Eco Temp Basic thermometer. Abnormal: less than 36.5°C or more than 37.5°C. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfeeding Status | Assessed at 3 days post birth, then weekly from day of birth until six weeks postnatal. | Exclusive breastfeeding, mixed breast and formula feeding, exclusive formula feeding, addition of expressed breastmilk. Includes a comparison to self reported antenatal infant feeding intentions. |
| Mother Infant bonding | Six weeks post birth | Maternal participants will self report on their perspectives of skin-to-skin contact, and its role in the relationship bonding process between themselves and their babies. |
| Neonatal Weight Velocity | At a minimum of 3 intervals, including at birth, ten days, and at six weeks post birth. | Neonatal weight in grams to ensure suitable for Snuby® garment. |
| Maternal participant's perspective | Weekly until 6 weeks post birth | Maternal participants will self-report their views on the garment's ease of use and perceived value. This will be compared to the control group reporting on the same outcomes with conventionally facilitated skin-to-skin contact. |
| Midwifery participant's perspective | 12 months post birth of the first participating mother-infant dyad. | Qualitative data collection from midwifery participants, including their perspectives on skin-to-skin contact in the hospital setting, and the perceived value of the Snuby® garment. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed