Early skin-to-skin contact and the risk of intraventricular haemorrhage and sepsis in preterm infants.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the risks of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) or sepsis in extremely and very preterm infants exposed to early skin-to-skin contact (SSC).

Methods: Data from the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register from 2015 to 2021 were extracted to compare the proportions of infants exposed and not exposed to SSC on day 0 and/or 1 in life that developed IVH or sepsis.

Results: A total of 2514 infants, 1005 extremely preterm and 1509 very preterm, were included.