Evidence summary: How to implement early mother-infant skin-to-skin contact after delivery

This study aimed to delineate optimal practices for early mother-infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC) by synthesizing the best available evidence, thereby facilitating its implementation and promotion. and methods: We referred to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) streamlined rapid review approach to conducted this study. The guide websites, institution websites, national and international databases, and clinical decision support systems were comprehensive searched. AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II), AMSTAR 2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews), and JBI appraisal tools were utilized to assess the quality of the included literature. 14 guidelines, 9 expert consensus reports, five evidence summaries, and one systematic review were finally included. In total, six domains comprising 18 recommendations were extracted: (1) target population; (2) preparations beforehand; (3) timing of initiation; (4) practices during SSC; (5) precautions during exposure; (6) breastfeeding promotion. and relevance to clinical practice: Based on the synthesized evidence, immediate or early uninterrupted SSC is recommended regardless of delivery mode. Newborns should be placed prone on the mother's abdomen or chest as soon as possible after birth for a minimum of 60 or 90 minutes, or until completion of the first breastfeeding. Notably, we compared and selected evidence to address inconsistencies in practices. Our recommendations offer clarity on the SSC target population, preparation, precautions during exposure, and breastfeeding promotion. However, explicit duration and initiation time for SSC remain uncertain. These findings serve as a valuable reference for clinical practice and research endeavors.