Swedish National Recommendations for Continuous Skin-to-Skin Contact and Care for Mothers and Newborns
By
S. Klemming
Vesta Seyed Alikhani
K. Breding
P. Bäcke
S. Elvermark
A. Gustafsson
Å. Hermansson
E. Jonsson
N. Kjellqvist
M. Mattisson
M. Nelander
M-C. Nilsson
A. Nyholm
S. Lilliesköld
Y. Thernström Blomqvist
E. Wilson
S. Arwehed
September 10, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Swedish National Recommendations for Continuous Skin-to-Skin Contact and Care for Mothers and Newborns
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Skin-to-skin contact and couplet care for mothers and newborns Key Mechanisms Improved thermoregulation, stabilization of heart rate and respiration, reduced postpartum bleeding, and enhanced bonding Target Population All mothers and newborns during the initial hours following birth and subsequent hospital care Care Setting Hospital settings providing maternal and neonatal care
Key Highlights
Immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact recommended for all newborns for at least the first 2 hours after birth Mother-newborn couplet care model promotes ongoing skin-to-skin contact Guideline emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration for successful implementation Particular focus on preterm, low-birth-weight infants, and those requiring specialized medical interventions Encouragement for the development of comparable national, regional, and local guidelines Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Identify all newborns eligible for immediate skin-to-skin contact Management
Implement immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for all newborns Adopt mother-newborn couplet care irrespective of medical needs Monitoring & Follow-up
Assess the impact of skin-to-skin contact on maternal and infant health outcomes Risks
Consider risks associated with separation of mother and newborn, especially in high-risk cases Patient & Prescribing Data
Mothers and newborns in hospital settings
Skin-to-skin contact should be initiated early or immediately, starting from 28 weeks of pregnancy
Clinical Best Practices
Ensure skin-to-skin contact is prioritized in all maternal and neonatal care protocols Facilitate collaboration among healthcare professionals across disciplines Adapt facilities and equipment to support mother-newborn proximity Related Resources & Content
