Unnecessary Intervention:
Footprinting and Routine Separation
Footprinting of newborns is currently still a widespread practice in the Philippines as means of identification of newborns. In the first few minutes following delivery, the newborn’s feet are pressed into a common inkpad and later pressed onto an identification sheet. Not only is this practice is usually done by untrained personnel with variable results, but more importantly also increases the risk of crosscontamination among the babies. In 1988, the American Academy of Pedicatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stated that “individual hospitals may want to continue the practice of footprinting or fingerprinting, but universal use of this practice is no longer recommended.” In fact studies have demonstrated that the majority of infant footprints taken by hospital personnel prove inadequate for identification purposes, contending that DNA genotyping and human leukocyte antigen tests are better methods of identification. Moreover, the EINC practice of non-separation of newborn from the mother minimizes the risk of switching newborns.
Mostly importantly it has been proven that healthy newborns placed with their mother soon after birth transition more easilyto extrauterine life. They stay warm, cry less, are more likely to breastfeed and breastfeed sooner compared to babies separated from their mothers. Unnecessary separation of newborns from their mothers and the resultant postponement of latching on and rooming in and restrictions on breastfeeding seriously compromise colonization of the newborn with maternal skin flora, immunoprotection, milk production and eventual exclusive breastfeeding. Footprinting, should not interfere with the core steps that include skin-to-skin contact and non-separation of mother and baby from early initiation of breastfeeding.
Recommended Practice:
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is generally perceived to be an intervention for the provision of warmth and bonding. But its contributions to immunoprotection of the newborn and to the protection against hypoglycemia are not widely known and less appreciated. Furthermore, evidence from several studies show that skin-to-skin contact between mother and birth reduces crying, improves mother-baby interaction, keeps the baby warmer, aids in stabilizing the baby and helps women breastfeed successfully.Effects on Breastfeeding
A meta-analysis by Moore et all which included 30 randomized and quasi-randomized trials compared early SSC with usual hospital care involving 1925 mother-infant dyads. They reported statistically significant positive effects of early SSC on breastfeeding at 1-4 months post-birth (10 trials; 552 dyads; OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.08, 3.07), and breastfeeding duration (7 trials; 324 dyads; WMD 42.55, 95% CI -1.69, 86.79). Trends were found for improved summary scores for maternal attachment behavior (6 trials, 396 participants) (SMD 0.52%, 95% CI 0.072) and maternal affectionate love/touch during observed breastfeeding (4 trials; 314 dyads) (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.52, 95% CI 0.07, 0.98) and with early SSC. SSC infants cried for a shorter length of time (one trial; 44 participants) (WMD -8.01, 95% CI -8.98, -7.04). Late preterm infants had better cardio respiratory stability with early SSC (one trial; 35 participants) (WMD 2.88, 95% CI 0.53, 5.23). No adverse effects were found.
Effects on the Infant’s Cardiorespiratory Stability
A study of Takahashi et al. compared the effects of different initiation and duration times of skin-to-skin contact on the stress port-birth in full-term infants. The first group began SSC 5 minutes or less after birth (birth SSC), while the second group began SSC after 5 minutes (ver early SSC). The birth of SSC group reached HR stability of 120-160 bpm significantly faster than very early SSC group by Kaplan-Meier analysis (p=0.001 by log-rank test). As for Spo(2) stability of 92% and 96%, no significantly between-group difference was found. Salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower between 60 and 120 minutes after birth in SSC group, continuing for more than 60 minutes compared with SSC group for 60 minutes or less after adjustment for salivary cortisol level at 1 minute besides infant stress factors (P=0.046). All these suggest that earlier SSC beginning within 5 minutes post birth and longer SSC continuing for more than 60 minutes within 120 minutes post birth are beneficial for stability of cardiopulmomary dynamics and the reduction of infant stress during the early period post birth.
Effect on Infant’s Body Temperature
In an early study, Christensson et al randomized 50 healthy, full-term, newborn infants to be kept either skin-to-skin with the mother (n=25 mother-baby pairs) or next to the mother in a cot “separated” (n=25 mother-baby pairs). The babies were studied during the first 90 minutes after birth. Axillary and skin temperatures were significantly higher in the skin-to-skin group. Babies kept in cots cried significantly more than those kept skin-to-skin with the mother.
Effect on Blood Sugar Levels
In the previously cited randomized controlled trial by Christensson et al., at 90 minutes after birth blood glucose levels were significantly higher and the return towards zero of the negative base-excess was more rapid in the skin-to-skin as compared to the “separated” group. The weighted difference WMC (fixed) was 11.07 95% CI [3.97. 18.17].
Effect on Immunoprotection
Close skin-to-skin contact between the maternal-infant dyad may also stimulate the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue system.
a. Moore E, Anderson G, Bergman N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD003519.
b. Takahashi Y et al. Comparison of salivary cortisol, heart rate, and oxygen saturation between early skin-to-skin cointact with different initiation and duration times in healthy, full-term infants. Early Hum Dev, 2011 Mar, 87 (3):151-7.
c. Christensson K, Siles C, Moreno L, Belaustequi A, De La Fuente P, Lagercrantz H, Puyol P, Winberg J. Temperature, metabolic adaptation and crying in healthy full-term newborns cared for skin-to-skin or in a cot. 1992. Acta Paediatr. 1992 Jun-Jul;81(6-7):488-93.
d. Anderson GC, Moore E, Hepworth J, Bergman N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(2):CD003519.
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