Effect of Early Skin-to-Skin Mother—Infant Contact During the First 3 Hours Following Birth on Exclusive Breastfeeding During the Maternity Hospital Stay

Abstract

This was a nurse-driven, hospital-based, prospective cohort study of data collected in 19 hospitals in San Bernardino and Riverside counties by California Perinatal Services Network on all mothers (n = 21 842) who delivered a singleton infant (37-40 weeks gestation) between July 2005 through June 2006. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed that maternal infant-feeding method intention (measured prior to birth), sociodemographic characteristics, intrapartum variables, and early skin-to-skin mother-infant contact during the first 3 hours following birth (controlling for delivery hospital) were correlated with exclusive breastfeeding during the maternity hospitalization. Compared with mothers with no early skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding was higher in mothers who experienced skin-to-skin contact for 1 to 15 minutes (odds ratio [OR] 1.376; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.593), 16 to 30 minutes (OR 1.665; 95% CI, 1.468-1.888), 31 to 59 minutes (OR 2.357; 95% CI, 2.061-2.695), and more than 1 hour (OR 3.145; 95% CI, 2.905-3.405). The results demonstrate a dose-response relationship between early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding exclusivity.

Holding the baby: Early mother–infant contact after childbirth and outcomes

“…For this group and women having a vaginal birth it may be that the associated confidence and self-efficacy of coping with labour and the experience of early contact contribute to breastfeeding outcomes (Dennis, 1999). The actual duration of early contact seems to be a critical aspect of care at this time, supporting others' findings that greater skin-to-skin contact duration was associated with successful breastfeeding (Gomez, 1998;Bramson, 2010) The study was limited to mothers of healthy fullterm infants. The low response rate for the original survey and reliance on maternal report are limitations.…”

Healthy Birth Practice #6: Keep Mother and Baby Together— It’s Best for Mother, Baby, and Breastfeeding

“…The newborn's instinctive behavior while skin-to-skin, enhanced by high levels of oxytocin at birth, may help explain why researchers have found a relationship between early skin-to-skin care and improved breastfeeding outcomes. Babies who had early skin-to-skin care were more likely to exclusively breastfeed at hospital discharge, to be exclusively breastfed after discharge, and to breastfeed for longer durations (Bramson et al, 2010;Gabriel et al, 2010;Moore et al, 2012).…”

“…Timing and duration of early skin-to-skin care also influence breastfeeding outcomes (Bramson et al, 2010;Gabriel et al, 2010;Moore et al, 2012). Shorter intervals between birth and the start of skinto-skin care and longer times spent skin-to-skin after birth improved breastfeeding exclusivity and duration.…”

ABM Clinical Protocol #5: Peripartum Breastfeeding Management for the Healthy Mother and Infant at Term, Revision 2013

“…10,[25][26][27][28][29] Extensive early skin-to-skin contact likely increases the duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Delaying procedures such as weighing, measuring, administering eye prophylaxis as well as vitamin K, up to 6 hours after birth, and the initial bath enhances early parent-infant interaction. 10,36 Infants are to be put close to the breast, as soon after birth as is feasible for both mother and infant, to allow for a latch and feeding, ideally within an hour of birth.…”