Effects of Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact on Maternal and Neonatal Physiological Outcomes after Cesarean delivery

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt.

2 Assistant professor of pediatric nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt & Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Taibahu University, KSA

3 Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt.

Abstract

Context: Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) immediately after cesarean section uncommon
in Egypt. It is anticipated that this type of care is a successful approach for both maternal and
neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of immediate skin to
skin contact on maternal and neonatal physiological outcomes after cesarean delivery.
Methods: A Quasi-experimental design was utilized at the operative delivery and
postpartum unit at El-kasr El-Ainy and El -Manial university hospitals, Egypt. A purposive
sample of 100 primiparous women who underwent elective CS and their newborns (100)
were included and divided into study and control groups. Six tools were used to collect data
of this study, 1) characteristics of the studied mothers. 2) Newborns' medical records, 3)
Infant breastfeeding assessment tool, 4) Successful breastfeeding assessment tool, 5)
Maternal satisfaction self-report questionnaire and 6) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Results: 96% of neonates in the study group manifested no signs of hypothermia compared
to 58% of the control group. There was highly statistical significant differences between both
groups regarding the total mean pain score after 6 hrs. from cesarean delivery. Also,
regarding total mean score of successful breastfeeding (11.68 ± 2.19 & 9.62 ± 2.41) in the
study and control group respectively. Conclusion: the present study concluded that
implementation of an immediate skin to skin contact after cesarean delivery had a significant
effect on maternal and newborn physiological outcomes. Recommendations. Skin to skin
contact nursing intervention should be importantly applied in all maternity units in
each
hospital immediately after cesarean deliveries for its great benefits.

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