PreDECESS trial to evaluate delayed cord clamping and early skin-to-skin contact for preterm infant bonding and health.
Background
For preterm infants born between 30+0 and 34+6 gestational weeks, optimizing early care to foster parent-infant bonding and improve neonatal outcomes remains a critical area. Traditional immediate cord clamping and separation may hinder initial bonding and deprive infants of beneficial placental blood. Interventions like delayed cord clamping (DCC) are known to transfer additional blood volume, potentially improving hematological status, while early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is recognized for its role in promoting bonding, breastfeeding, and physiological stability. This study addresses the gap in understanding the combined impact of these two non-pharmacological interventions on this specific preterm population.
Study Design
The PreDECESS trial is a prospective study designed to evaluate a new care method for preterm infants born between 30+0 and 34+6 gestational weeks. It will compare two populations: a historical control group receiving traditional care, and a new intervention group receiving delayed cord clamping and early skin-to-skin contact with a parent. The primary question focuses on whether this new method leads to better bonding between parents and their infants. Secondary questions explore potential adverse effects, differences in infant bilirubin, hemoglobin, and proBNP levels, growth, neurological development, stress levels (infant and parent), maternal breastmilk production, breastfeeding frequency/experience, and parental mood.
Why It Matters
This prospective study aims to establish a new standard of care for preterm infants, potentially transforming initial post-birth protocols. If successful, the combined approach of delayed cord clamping and early skin-to-skin contact could significantly enhance parent-infant bonding, a crucial factor for long-term child development and parental well-being. Furthermore, positive findings on infant health markers like hemoglobin and neurological development could lead to widespread adoption of these simple, non-invasive interventions. This research could provide evidence for integrating DCC and SSC into routine care for moderate-to-late preterm infants, offering a practical, low-cost intervention to improve early outcomes and family experience. The findings could inform new clinical guidelines, making these practices standard rather than optional.
preterm-infants
delayed-cord-clamping
skin-to-skin-contact
parent-infant-bonding
neonatal-care
clinical-trial