Effect of Immediate Postnatal Skin to Skin Contact between Mother Newborn on Time of Placental Delivery and Initiation of Breastfeeding

Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) has a significant positive effect on exclusive breastfeeding
and time of placental delivery. It is a cost-effective method to improve the quality of postnatal
care, and is one of the basic steps in achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 of
lowering the mortality of the child and improvement of maternal well-being. Objective:
Evaluate the effect of immediate postnatal mothers and newborns skin to skin contact on time
of placental delivery and initiation of breast feeding. Setting: This study was conducted at the
delivery room in maternity department at Shaqra General Hospital, Shaqra, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. Subjects: A purposive sample of 100 laboring women was divided into study
and control groups (50 for each). Tools: Four tools were used: 1) Laboring Women
Structured Interview schedule, 2) Assessment of Labor and Immediate Postnatal, 3) Infant
Breastfeeding Assessment (IBFAT) and 4) Neonatal Assessment. Results: There was a
significant difference between study and control groups regarding (complete placental
separation, uterine contraction immediately after birth, uterus position between umbilical and
pubic bone, and uterine atony). The first breastfeed was 58% more successful in SSC group
as compared to routine hospital care group (RHC) (88% SSC & 30% with a p-value of
0.001). In SSC group, the mean time to initiate first breastfeeding was 70.8 minutes shorter
than RHC group (37.96 ± 14.80 vs. 108.82± 31.50 minutes; p < 0.001). Mean time to achieve
effective breastfeeding was 275.08 minutes earlier in SSC group (121.92 ±39.97 vs. 397±
105.54 minutes; p < 0.001). Similarly, 82% mothers of SSC group showed a preference for
similar care in future as compared to 32% in RHC group. Conclusion: SSC was associated
with shortage in the time of placental delivery as well as, decrease in time between birth and
breastfeeding initiation, more success in the first breastfeeding and longer duration of first
breastfeeding. Recommendations: Nurses should encourage mothers to practice skin-to-skin
contact immediately after birth. Continuous educational and training program concerning
benefits and practice of SSC among health personnel is necessary.