Bellin Hospital, Green Bay

Bellin Health participated in a Wisconsin perinatal quality collaborative focused on exclusive breastmilk feeding. As part of this initiative, the team examined how many 24-hour newborn tests and procedures were performed at the bedside, either skin-to-skin or with a parent present. Wisconsin mandates screening for congenital and metabolic disorders for all newborns. Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to effectively reduce stress and pain in newborns during painful procedures without any adverse effects.

When Bellin Health first began tracking their compliance rates, some months showed as low as 7%. However, after educating staff in June 2023, these numbers began to improve, reaching up to 57% in some months. Nurses reported several benefits, including infants passing hearing screens faster, , passing hearing screens on the first attempt, crying less during heel sticks, and taking less time to obtain blood for the newborn screen.

The team continues to address staff and patient barriers by emphasizing the value of skin-to-skin contact for both infants and parents. In 2024, they are further analyzing the data to identify specific barriers, such as the time of day, the staff performing procedures, and other common obstacles. This ongoing effort aims to increase the practice of skin-to-skin contact during newborn testing and procedures, ultimately enhancing the overall care and experience for both infants and their families.