The effect of mother and newborn early skin-to-skin contact on initiation of breastfeeding, newborn temperature and duration of third stage of labor

Abstract

BackgroundMother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) after birth brings about numerous protective effects; however, it is an intervention that is underutilized in Iraq where a globally considerable rate of maternal and child death has been reported. The present study was conducted in order to assess the effects of SCC on initiation of breastfeeding, newborn temperature, and duration of the third stage of labor.MethodsA quasi-experimental study was conducted on 108 healthy women and their neonates (56 in the intervention group who received SSC and 52 in the routine care group) at Hawler maternity teaching hospital of Erbil, Iraq from February to May, 2017. Data were collected via structured interviews and the LATCH scale to document breastfeeding sessions.ResultsThe mean age of the mothers in the SSC and routine care groups were 26.29 ± 6.13 (M ± SD) and 26.02 ± 5.94 (M ± SD) respectively. Based on the LATCH scores, 48% of mothers who received SSC and 46% with routine care had successful breastfeeding. Newborns who received SSC initiated breastfeeding within 2.41 ± 1.38 (M ± SD) minutes after birth; however, newborns who received routine care started breastfeeding in 5.48 ± 5.7 (M ± SD) minutes. Duration of the third stage of labor in mothers who practiced SSC after birth was 6 ± 1.7 min, compared to 8.02 ± 3.6 min for mothers who were provided with routine care (p < 0.001). Moreover, the prevalence of hypothermia in the newborns who received SSC and routine care was 2 and 42% respectively. Results remained unchanged after using regression modelling to adjust for potential factors and background characteristics.ConclusionSkin-to-skin contact provides an appropriate and affordable yet high quality alternative to technology. It is easily implemented, even in small hospitals of very low-income countries, and has the potential to save newborns’ and mothers’ lives. It is necessary to prioritize training of health providers to implement essential newborn care including SSC. Community engagement is also needed to ensure that all women and their families understand the benefits of SSC and early initiation of breastfeeding.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03548389.

Early essential newborn care is associated with increased breastfeeding: a quasi-experimental study from Sichuan Province of western China

“…Mothers who received SSC in EENC implementation experienced shorter median time to initiate breastfeeding (25 min vs. 33 min) and were more likely to ensure first-time breastfeeding (OR=5.53). Similar findings have been reported in previous studies carried out by Caitlin et al in the USA, Iabal et al in Pakistan, and Kolssoom et al in Iraq [28][29][30]. This could be explained by a strong biological mechanism.…”

“…Our analysis also suggested that prolonged duration of SSC (21.53 min) and first-time breastfeeding (4.16 min) occurred concomitant with the introduction of EENC. Longer duration of the first breastfeed in mothers receiving EENC results from sustained mother and newborn SSC, by which increased breast milk production prolongs duration of first-time breastfeeding [22], and then enhanced maternal satisfaction may occur [28][29][30]. These findings favored WHO's recommendation that "SSC should begin ideally at birth and last continually until the end of the first breastfeeding" [13,34].…”

Care practices associated with breastfeeding among pregnant and lactating women

“…Faced with this issue, the results showed that the lack of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her newborn limits the early onset of breastfeeding, as in the results of the study by Kolsoom et al (2018) 32 showed an association between skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their newborns and early onset of breastfeeding (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.68, 4.85), which also it was reported by Aghdas et al (2014) 33 . Additionally, Moore, Anderson, Bergman (2007) 34 , in a systematic review that included 30 controlled clinical trials with 1,925 mother and child dyads, they found that skin-to-skin contact had positive effects on breastfeeding up to 4 months after delivery and on the duration of the same, in accordance with the Clinical Practice Guidelines 20 that considered this high-quality scientific evidence and recommend that women maintain skin-to-skin contact with their children immediately after birth.…”

Measuring coverage of WHO recommended Essential Newborn Care practices in the squatter settlements of Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan.

“…Drying and wrapping the newborn instantly after birth and initiation of skin to skin contact of the mother and the newborn are proven interventions to limit hypothermia which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality of neonates especially in the developing countries (35). Drying the newborn within ten minutes after birth was reported by 68.8% of the respondents, while 57% of the newborn mother duo had skin to skin contact within ten minutes of birth.…”