These are the best references I could find in a quick PubMed search just
now.  Kyllike Christensson (first author in two of these studies) is on the
midwifery school faculty at Karolinska Institut, Stockholm, and a pioneer
researcher in this area.
Rachel Myr - big fan of Kyllike Christensson and indeed of the entire
Swedish BF/oxytocin research community
Kristiansand, Norway

Christensson K, Siles C, Moreno L, Belaustequi A, De La Fuente P,
Lagercrantz H, Puyol P, Winberg J. Temperature, metabolic adaptation and
crying in healthy full-term newborns cared for skin-to-skin or in a cot.
Acta Paediatr. 1992 Jun-Jul;81(6-7):488-93

Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to compare temperatures, metabolic
adaptation and crying behavior in 50 healthy, full-term, newborn infants who
were randomized to be kept either skin-to-skin with the mother or next to
the mother in a cot "separated". The babies were studied during the first 90
min after birth. Axillary and skin temperatures were significantly higher in
the skin-to-skin group; at 90 min after birth blood glucose was also
significantly higher and the return towards zero of the negative base-excess
was more rapid as compared to the "separated" group. Babies kept in cots
cried significantly more than those kept skin-to-skin with the mother.
Keeping the baby skin-to-skin with the mother preserves energy and
accelerates metabolic adaptation and may increase the well-being of the
newborn.

Christensson K. Fathers can effectively achieve heat conservation in healthy
newborn infants.Acta Paediatr. 1996 Nov;85(11):1354-60.

Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to compare axillar and skin temperatures
and metabolic adaptation in healthy, fullterm elective caesarean section
delivered infants who were randomized to be cared-for either in (a) an
incubator, (b) a cot, or (c) skin-to-skin with the father. Forty-four
infants were studied. The mean axillary temperature increase was
significantly greater in the skin-to-skin cared-for infants than in the cot
cared-for group. There were no significant difference in mean temperature
increase between skin-to-sin cared-for and incubator cared-for infants.
Blood glucose increase was significant in the skin-to-skin group, but not in
the other groups. The catecholamine levels at 120 min after birth were all
within normal range, and there were no differences between the three groups,
suggesting that none of the groups was exposed to cold stress.
Interestingly, at 24 h after birth the mean axillary temperature was
significantly higher in the skin-to-skin group than in the incubator group.
It can be concluded that fathers can effectively achieve heat conservation
in healthy fullterm caesarean section delivered infants.


Mazurek T, Mikiel-Kostyra K, Mazur J, Wieczorek P, Radwanska B,
Pachuta-Wegier L. [Influence of immediate newborn care on infant adaptation
to the environment] Med Wieku Rozwoj. 1999 Apr-Jun;3(2):215-24. (article in
Polish)
Abstract:
The indicators of newborns' adaptation during 75 min after birth were
compared in three randomised groups of full-term newborns: skin-to-skin
contact (group I), swaddled newborns beside the mother (group II), swaddled
and separated from the mother (group III). The changes in skin temperature,
blood glucose, pH, heart rate, respiration rate and crying time were
studied. All the above characteristics but pH were significantly the most
favourable for infants in the skin-to-skin group. The analysis of individual
trends of changes in skin temperature indicated that for all but two
newborns not separated from the mother (skin-to-skin or lying besides) the
temperature was growing during the observation period, whereas in the
separated group, six newborns (27%) had unstable not growing temperature.
The mean level of blood glucose was the highest in skin-to-skin group (60.1
mg/dl), lower in group of swaddled and lying beside mother (52.5 mg/dl) and
the lowest (49.6 mg/dl) in the separated group. The mean duration of crying
time in the skin-to-skin contact was a little shorter than in the group of
newborns lying besides the mother and more than three times shorter than in
the separated group. The observed number of episodes of crying were 7, 17
and 38 in the three groups respectively. All results indicated that
skin-to-skin contact is optimal for newborns', adaptation after birth
especially as a protection against hypothermia and hypoglycaemia.

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