If your baby was born a few weeks early, you might have worried about spending those crucial first hours apart in the hospital. New research from a Belgian hospital suggests there's a better way—and it could transform how Singapore's maternity wards care for late preterm babies.
Late preterm infants—those born between 34 and 37 weeks of pregnancy—face unique challenges in their first days. They're at higher risk of struggling to feed, developing dangerously low blood sugar, losing body heat, and being separated from mum during critical bonding moments. While doctors have long recommended skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in (where baby stays in mum's room rather than the nursery), many hospitals haven't fully adopted these practices, especially for babies born early.
What the Research Found
Researchers at a Belgian tertiary hospital implemented a "Non-Separation Pathway"—essentially a structured plan to keep mums and babies together from delivery onwards. The approach had three parts: skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, continuous rooming-in throughout the hospital stay, and professional feeding support following international best-practice guidelines.
The results were encouraging. Over 80% of babies had skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room, and three-quarters of babies were receiving mother's milk by discharge, with over a third exclusively breastfed. Importantly, the approach was safe—there were no major safety concerns, even though these were medically vulnerable babies.
However, complete non-separation (staying together the entire time) was only achieved for about 37% of mother-baby pairs. The biggest barriers? Babies needing respiratory support (breathing help), cesarean deliveries, and lack of proper rooming-in facilities in neonatal wards.
What This Means for Singapore Families
Singapore's healthcare system is world-class, but like hospitals everywhere, it's still catching up with the latest evidence on family-centered care for early babies. Most Singapore maternity hospitals do offer some skin-to-skin contact, but the practice varies widely, and many neonatal intensive care units still separate babies from parents for monitoring and care.
This research suggests that even if your baby needs some medical support, keeping them close to you—whether through skin-to-skin contact or rooming-in—is both safe and beneficial. It's not just emotionally comforting; it directly impacts feeding success and your baby's ability to regulate their own body temperature.
For Asian families, where extended family involvement in newborn care is common, this pathway also aligns with cultural values around keeping babies close. Rather than fighting hospital routines, you now have evidence to advocate for more contact time with your baby.
Three Ways You Can Use This Information
- Ask about skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room. Even if your baby needs monitoring, ask whether immediate skin-to-skin contact is possible before any medical procedures. The research shows this is safe for most late preterm babies and boosts breastfeeding success by up to 75%.
- Request rooming-in arrangements when your baby is stable enough. Rather than accepting automatic separation, ask your hospital team at what point rooming-in becomes possible. Continuous contact helps regulate your baby's temperature naturally and makes night feeding easier, reducing stress for both of you.
- Prepare a feeding support plan before birth. If you're expecting a late preterm baby, ask your hospital whether they follow structured feeding protocols. Knowing you'll have professional lactation or feeding support reduces anxiety and significantly improves breastfeeding outcomes in the first weeks home.