Randomized Controlled Trial of Very Early Mother‐Infant Skin‐to‐Skin Contact and Breastfeeding Status

Abstract

This study was done to evaluate effects of maternal-infant skin-to-skin contact during the first 2 hours postbirth compared to standard care (holding the infant swaddled in blankets) on breastfeeding outcomes through 1 month follow-up. Healthy primiparous mother-infant dyads were randomly assigned by computerized minimization to skin-to-skin contact (n = 10) or standard care (n = 10). The Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool was used to measure success of first breastfeeding and time to effective breastfeeding (time of the first of three consecutive scores of 10-12). Intervention dyads experienced a mean of 1.66 hours of skin-to-skin contact. These infants, compared to swaddled infants, had higher mean sucking competency during the first breastfeeding (8.7 +/- 2.1 vs 6.3 +/- 2.6; P < .02) and achieved effective breastfeeding sooner (935 +/- 721 minutes vs 1737 +/- 1001; P < .04). No significant differences were found in number of breastfeeding problems encountered during follow-up (30.9 +/- 5.51 vs 32.7 +/- 5.84; P < .25) or in breastfeeding exclusivity (1.50 +/- 1.1 vs 2.10 +/- 2.2; P < .45). Sucking competency was also related to maternal nipple protractility (r = .48; P < .03). Very early skin-to-skin contact enhanced breastfeeding success during the early postpartum period. No significant differences were found at 1 month.

Fathers' Lived Experiences of Getting to Know Their Baby While Acting as Primary Caregivers Immediately Following Birth

“…In an immediate and gradual movement, the fathers undertook responsibility for their child as they got to know the child. This does not mean that the well-described mother-infant dyad (Anderson, Moore, Hepworth, & Bergman, 2003;Moore & Anderson, 2007;Walters, Boggs, LudingtonHoe, Price, & Morrison, 2007) should be replaced; rather, it should be supported by a father's care, providing comfort and well-being for the infant when mother and child are apart. In the present study, the fathers took care of their infants as the primary caregiver during the first hours of the mothers' postoperative observation.…”

Determinants of successful breastfeeding initiation in healthy term singletons: a Swiss university hospital observational study

“…The main risk factors for shorter or non-initiated breastfeeding are maternal obesity [2] , high gestational weight gain (GWG) [16] , low social status [12] , epidural anesthesia during labor [37] , cesarean section [32] , and delayed skin-to-skin contact [24] .…”

Ações Pró-Amamentação para Recém-Nascidos Portadores de Gastrosquise

“…A exposição a esta cirurgia e às condições de evolução do bebê promove consequentemente, a separação mãe e filho. Essa separação precoce é um fator que dificulta o processo amamentação e favorece as chances de desmame precoce, principalmente se houver falta de apoio à mãe para prepará-la para a amamentação, e pela necessidade, por vezes, de se introduzir fórmula láctea a esta criança (MOORE; ANDERSON, 2007;REIS, 2010). …”