title: Randomized controlled trial of early skin-to-skin contact: effects on the mother and the newborn.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics, Hospital Madrid-Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain. pedmgma@gmail.com
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marín Gabriel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Llana Martín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López Escobar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández Villalba
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romero Blanco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Touza Pol
mesh_terms: 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*