Maternal Experiences of Providing Skin-to-Skin Contact to Pre-term Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Jordan

Abstract

Background: Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been known to improve the mother-infant attachment process with a variety of positive outcomes. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed at exploring the Jordanian mothers’ experiences in proving direct SSC to their pre-term infants in one Jordanian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after the introduction of this care approach for the first time. Design and Methods: A descriptive phenomenological research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 Jordanian mothers who provided SSC to their pre-term infants in an NICU. Results: Three themes emerged from the data analysis. The first theme described how SSC has the power of physical closeness, in which SSC created a change from an anxiety state to a serenity state, as well as a positive ‘back to the womb’ feeling for mothers and their infants. The second theme described how SSC enhanced motherhood by promoting the mothers’ feelings as mothers, facilitating bonding and promoting breastfeeding. The third theme identified was the barriers to providing SSC in Jordanian NICUs. Nursing Implications: SSC was found to have positive outcomes for both mothers and their neonates. SSC can enhance positive psychological (serenity and relaxation) and physiological (enhancing the respiration of neonates and promoting breastfeeding) outcomes. Ongoing support and counseling from health-care providers are essential to maximizing the benefits of SSC practice.