https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2812391
A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial IPISTOSS, where the intervention was immediate skin-to-skin contact between very preterm and parent during the first 6 hours after birth compared to standard care in the incubator. Mother-infant interaction quality was measured with the Parent–Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) based on video recordings of a 5-minute free-play situation at 4 months of corrected age. In total 71 mother–very preterm infant dyads were analyzed. We found that skin-to-skin contact provided by a parent during the first 6 hours after birth significantly enhanced child interactive behaviors and positive affect at 4 months. These findings suggest that immediate skin-to-skin contact between very preterm and parent should be supported in clinical settings.