https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/apa.70739
This systematic review evaluated evidence for immediate SSC, defined as initiated within 1 h after birth, versus conventional care in preterm infants in high-resource settings. Four randomised clinical trials encompassing 325 infants were included. Immediate SSC was feasible and safe. Cardiorespiratory stability, thermoregulation, breastfeeding practices, maternal–infant interaction, infant stress regulation, and parental mental health outcomes were in favour of the intervention. The findings support that there is a sensitive window in the first hours after birth when preterm infants and parents should not be separated.