The Effect of Mother and Newborn Early Skin-to–Skin Contact on Initiation of Breastfeeding, Newborn Temperature, and Duration of the Third Stage of Labor at Holy Family Hospital, Palestine.

Amani Salem Ahmad Khateeb; اماني سالم احمد الخطيب

The Effect of Mother and Newborn Early Skin-to–Skin Contact on Initiation of Breastfeeding, Newborn Temperature, and Duration of the Third Stage of Labor at Holy Family Hospital, Palestine.

Date

2021-05-08

Authors

Amani Salem Ahmad Khateeb

اماني سالم احمد الخطيب

Publisher

Al-Quds University

Abstract

Background: All healthy mothers and babies should receive early skin to skin care (SSC) immediately after birth for at least an hour, and until after the first feeding for the breastfeeding women, as mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) after birth provide many benefits for the mother and the baby together. SSC is a natural and cost-effective method to prevent some complications for mother and baby, and it can be applied immediately after birth. Aim of the Study: 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. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 110 healthy women and their ne-onates (55 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group). Setting: This study was conducted in the labor ward at Holy family hospital of Bethlehem, Palestine from Jun to December, 2020. Data were collected via structured interviews and the LATCH scale to document breastfeeding sessions. Results: A statistical difference was found between maternal age, as the results suggested that there is no mothers aged less than 18 years old in the interventional group compared with control that had 5.5% aged less than 18 years. Also, statistical difference was found between level of education, as mothers who were had academic education were higher in the interventional group compared with control group. In adition, statistical difference was found between gravidity as mothers who have multi gravida were higher in the interventional group compared with control group. Based on the LATCH scores, as the re-sults revealed that 50.0% versus 31.8% of the newborns who experienced SSC and routine care achieved first successful breastfeeding respectively. According ot the duration of the third stage of labor, the results showed that the mothers who had SSC with their infant after birth had a shorter third stage in comparison with those who received routine care as (p < 0.00). Moreover, the prevalence of hypothermia in the newborns who received SSC and control group was 0 and 13.6% respectively. Conclusion: SSC considered best practice to provide the opportunity for each mother and infant. In order to achieve this goal, the old policies of maternity units need to be changed, and uninterrupted SSC after birth should be practiced for all mothers in the labor ward. In addition, universities and educational institutions should focus on increasing students' awareness and training students on this useful procedure. Also, hospital staff in delivery rooms should provide continuous training programs about the advantages of early SSC.