From the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit-Mothers' experiences with follow-up of skin-to-skin contact after premature birth

The aim of this study was to explore mothers' experiences with skin-to-skin contact (SSC) during hospitalization following a hospital's change in delivery routine for moderately premature infants-from immediate separation of mother and infant to immediate SSC. Three focus group interviews were conducted at the study hospital 7-12 months after delivery. Altogether, nine mothers participated in one interview each, and the interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. All mothers responded positively to immediate SSC in the delivery room and claimed that this practice had normalized the premature birth experience. However, several mothers were not satisfied with how SSC was adapted later during hospitalization. Barriers to SSC and factors supporting it were identified, and three main themes emerged during the analyzing process: importance of staff competence and support, the mothers' desire for an overall focus on health despite the prematurity, and physical/organizational barriers to SSC.