Cochrane Review Supports Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact as Evidence-Based Standard for Neonatal Care - Video

Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns should now be considered the global standard of care, according to a newly updated review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The analysis, which draws on data from 69 trials involving over 7,000 mother-infant pairs, found compelling evidence that placing babies on their mother’s bare chest within the first hour of birth significantly improves breastfeeding rates, body temperature regulation, blood sugar levels, and other vital health outcomes.

The updated review adds 26 new studies to the 2016 version, which already influenced 20 international health guidelines, including recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Researchers analyzed trials conducted mostly in high- and middle-income countries, where babies who received immediate skin-to-skin contact were 20% more likely to be exclusively breastfed at one month compared to those who were separated from their mothers after birth—75% versus 55%.

Exclusive breastfeeding has well-documented benefits for infant development, maternal health, and healthcare systems.

Given the overwhelming benefits, the review states that conducting new randomized trials that deny skin-to-skin contact to a control group is no longer ethical. “Withholding skin-to-skin contact would now be considered unethical, as there is enough evidence to show that the practice improves newborn health and survival,” said Karin Cadwell, senior author and Executive Director of Healthy Children Project’s Center for Breastfeeding.

The authors now urge future research to focus on improving implementation, especially in low-income settings where the practice could save lives, particularly among low birth weight infants.

Reference: Moore ER, Brimdyr K, Blair A, Jonas W, Lilliesköld S, Svensson K, Ahmed AH, Bastarache LR, Crenshaw JT, Giugliani ER J, Grady JE, Zakarija-Grkovic I, Haider R, Hill RR, Kagawa MN, Mbalinda SN, Stevens J, Takahashi Y, Cadwell K. Immediate or early skin‐to‐skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2025, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD003519. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub5. Accessed 22 October 2025.