Randomized controlled trial of early skin-to-skin contact: effects on the mother and the newborn.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the influence of skin-to-skin care on the thermal regulation of the infant and the rate of breastfeeding at different points of time. We also aim to establish whether skin-to-skin contact reduces maternal pain during episiotomy repair and decreases the time to expel the placenta.


METHODS
A randomized control study was performed with 137 patients in each branch of the study. Differences between the study groups were analysed with the unpaired t-test, Fisher test or chi-square test as appropriate.


RESULTS
Greater thermal stability in the skin-to-skin care group was found where an average temperature rise of 0.07°C was observed. Mothers in the skin-to-skin care group exclusively breastfed more frequently at discharge. Mean time to expel the placenta was lesser in the skin-to-skin care group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that skin-to-skin care implies better thermal regulation and a better proportion of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge.
Marín Gabriel
M A
MA
Pediatrics, Hospital Madrid-Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain. pedmgma@gmail.com
Llana Martín
I
I
López Escobar
A
A
Fernández Villalba
E
E
Romero Blanco
I
I
Touza Pol
P
P
D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004841:Episiotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007749:Labor Stage, Third / Q000502:physiology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012867:Skin; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*