Table I.

Excluded papers.

First author, year, country	Aim of the study	Theoretical orientation (T); Methodological orientation (M)	Population studied (P) Intervention (I)	Notes on findings	Methodological considerations and/or reasons for exclusion
Burkhammer, 2004, USA		T: Part of a larger study exploring possible reasons for breastfeeding difficulties. M: Case study.	P: 23-year-old mother, previous stillborn baby, GA 28, now SGA-baby GA 37 w, BW 2490 g. I: KMC was initiated after the immediate post-birth period.	This case study illustrates how KMC may help to facilitate emotional release and relaxation for the mother, enabling her to simultaneously grieve for her stillborn son and rejoice in the birth of her second son.	No clearly stated aim, theoretical orientation, or methodological description. No identification of limitations, categories, or framework.
Dombrowski 2000, USA		M: Case study, participant recruited from an RCT designed to investigate the effect of KMC on maternal and infant health based on (Moran, et al., 1999).	P: mother 17 y primipara, father 16 y. Twin boys GA 32 w, BW 1758 g and 1629 g. I: SSC 5–90 min, from 19 h to 5 d after birth, in NICU.	The mother expressed that it felt natural and that shared KC allowed the boys to feel relaxed and together. The father expereinced that the baby liked SSC, but as soon as the baby became uneasy, he believed it was hungry and gave it to the mother. However, he also stated that he knew what the baby liked.	No explicit aim. No analysis. No substantive findings, only observations by the authors and a few quotations. Some relationship between the researchers and family was apparent due to the use of “we.”
Dombrowski, 2001, USA	To describe how KMC may have helped the transition of the mother of a newborn preterm infant to motherhood despite challenging circumstances.	M: Case study, participant recruited from an RCT designed to investigate the effect of KMC on maternal and infant health based on (Moran et al., 1999).	P: mother 22 y, single, multiparous. Infant girl, GA 35 w. BW 2430 g. I: KMC 1–6 h, from 2 h after birth.	KMC helped with bonding, the mother felt closer to the baby than when holding her wrapped in blankets. Mother felt more secure and less anxious taking care of her baby and stated that KMC made it possible to forget everything and reduced stress.	Case study without a description of the data collection or analysis.
Erlandssson, 2008, Sweden	To describe the meaning of fathers’ lived experiences when taking care of their infant as the primary caregiver during the first hours after birth, when the infant was separated from the mother due to the latter's postoperative care.	M: Phenomenological design. Open interviews.	P: 15 fathers of healthy infants, GA 37–42 w. I: Fathers were the primary caregivers for 1–7 h after the birth, caring for the infant skin-to-skin, held wrapped or dressed or in a cot.	A movement towards father–child togetherness characterized by an immediate/ change as the father assumed increasing responsibility while getting to know his child.	The findings were not specifically related to SSC.
Messmer, 1995, USA	A pilot study addressing future problems of preterm infants.	T: The Continuity Hypothesis proposes that certain stimuli become familiar and salient to the foetus, and if presented repeatedly to the newborn, will have soothing and regulating effects (Ourth & Brown, 1961).	P: 13 mothers in an 8-bed NICU.	Anxieties and fears associated with the NICU diminished and confidence increased in their ability to care for the child. They became more prepared to assume responsibility for the infant's care after discharge.	Poor methodological quality. Recruitment, data collection, and analysis methods not reported. No qualitative analysis performed.
Meyer, 1999, USA	To document clinical experiences of KMC.	M: Case study.	P: Three mothers with breastfeeding difficulties. Full-term infants.	The clinical experiences suggest that it is worthwhile trying KMC to achieve successful breastfeeding.	Three personal stories with very little analysis. No theoretical orientation.
Moran, 1999, USA	To document KMC initiated 4.5 h post-birth with a healthy mother whose infant required initial stabilization in the NICU; to describe this family's experience and outline the nurses’ role in supporting this care.	M: Case study, part of a larger study with 6 m follow-up.	P: Married couple “in their mid-thirties,” 12 years of infertility. Infant boy, GA 32 w, BW 1953 g. I: KMC at the NICU, 4.5 h post birth.	KMC initiated early and administered for several hours for the first 5 days post birth seemed to be a satisfying experience for the parents.	Case study without description of data collection or analysis.
Parker, 2002, USA	To describe the experiences of adoptive parents who provided KMC to their critically ill preterm infant.	M: Case study.	P: Biological mother 15 y. No description of adoptive parents. Infant girl, GA 27 w, BW 917 g. I: KMC on High-Frequency Ventilation on day 3 and subsequently until discharge to home hospital on day 10.	Both parents felt an immediate and intense connection with their adoptive daughter and that they began to “know” her while providing KMC.	Case study without a description of data collection or analysis.
Price, 2005, United Kingdom	To improve awareness of breastfeeding and the importance of skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby at birth.	M: Action research with semi-structured audio-taped interviews.	P: Midwives and 8 mothers in a maternity unit. I: Skin-to-skin contact at birth.	The mothers’ relationships with their babies were enhanced. The SSC helped the mothers to endure painful experiences and felt natural. Appreciated being able to use own body to keep the baby warm.	The results from the interviews with the mothers were sparsely analysed and reported.
Silva, 2008, Brazil	To analyse the perceptions, experiences, and neonatal care behaviour of women in a KMC Program.	M: Observations, questionnaires, interviews.	P: 5 mother–baby dyads. BW 900–1350 g.	All mothers followed the prescribed activities and the period spent on the Program seems to have been used as a reflective moment in their lives.	Mixed methods. Difficulty to distinguish experiences from other findings.
Swinth, 2000, USA	To illustrate how one mother was assisted in sharing KMC with her newborn triplets.	M: Case study, the mother was cared for in a randomized control study in a KMC setting and expressed concern about being unable to spread her love between the three babies as well as her four older children.	P: Mother and her 3 baby boys, GA 35 w, BW 1336 g, 1736 g and 1882 g. I: 3 skin-to-skin sessions over 2 d from day 6 immediately after care-giving and bottle-feeding.	The shared kangaroo care relieved fears about being unable to love all three infants as well as four older children.	Case study without a description of the data collection and analysis.

Note: KMC = kangaroo mother care; SSC = skin-to-skin care; RCT = randomized controlled trial; SGA = small for gestational age; NICU = neonatal intensive care unit; BW = birth weight; GA = gestational age; y = year; w = week; m = month; d = day; h = hour; min = minute; g = gram.