Skin-to-Skin Contact With a Sling in Primipar Mothers Who Delivered by Cesarean Section

NCT06502860 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024-5/171
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 78
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The first hours after birth are critical for the physiological and psychological adaptation process of the newborn from intrauterine to extrauterine life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends skin-to-skin contact as a routine part of care to stabilize the newborn's vital signs and strengthen the mother-infant bond. However, the rate of skin-to-skin contact in women who give birth by cesarean section is lower compared to vaginal deliveries. Considering the global increase in cesarean birth rates, it is necessary to develop appropriate and practical care methods for mothers and newborns who deliver by cesarean section. The literature has examined the effects of the duration of skin-to-skin contact on breastfeeding initiation, neonatal hypothermia, and cardiopulmonary stability. However, studies aimed at increasing the duration of skin-to-skin contact are limited. This study compares the effects of standard skin-to-skin contact and skin-to-skin contact using a sling on the duration of skin-to-skin contact, postpartum breastfeeding success, and physiological weight loss of the newborn in primiparous mothers who delivered by cesarean section.

Conditions

Caesarean Section;Stillbirth; Breast Feeding

Keywords

Skin-to-skin contact; Caesarean section; Breastfeeding success; Newborn physiological weight loss; Sling

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Introductory Information Form

  The introductory characteristics of the mother and newborn are documented in forms used by the institution during patient care and in records. These forms are created by the researchers to systematize the information used in this study.

  Baseline (to both groups before the intervention)

• Skin-to-Skin Contact Tracking Form

  This form is created by the researchers to determine the duration of skin-to-skin contact for each participant.

  To be completed during patient follow-up (postpartum days 0, 1, and 2)

• Breastfeeding Assessment Scale (LATCH)

  The scale, developed by Jensen and Wallace in 1993, aims to objectively assess breastfeeding, identify breastfeeding problems, plan education, establish a common language among healthcare professionals, and be used in research (Jensen et al., 1994). The scale was adapted into Turkish by Yenal and Okumuş in 2003 and consists of five assessment steps. It is modeled after the APGAR scoring system and is quick and easy to use. The acronym LATCH stands for the English terms of these assessment steps: "L = Latch on breast," "A = Audible swallowing," "T = Type of nipple," "C = Comfort breast/nipple," "H = Hold." Each item is scored between 0-2 points. The total possible score from the measurement tool is 10. There is no cut-off point for the tool. As the LATCH score increases, the success of breastfeeding is understood to be higher. The scale has a Cronbach alpha value of .95 (Yenal and Okumuş, 2003).

  To be completed during patient follow-up, once a day (postpartum days 0, 1, and 2)

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will receive skin-to-skin contact facilitated by the use of a sling. Immediately after the cesarean section and stabilization, the newborn will be placed against the mother's bare chest using a specially designed sling. This sling will secure the baby in a safe and comfortable position, allowing for continuous close contact. The duration of skin-to-skin contact will be encouraged to last as long as the mother and baby are comfortable, without any set time limits.

Other: skin to skin with sling

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will receive standard skin-to-skin contact without the use of a sling. Immediately after the cesarean section and stabilization, the newborn will be placed directly on the mother's bare chest. This traditional method will involve holding the baby manually to maintain skin-to-skin contact. The duration of skin-to-skin contact will be encouraged to last as long as the mother and baby are comfortable, without any set time limits.

Interventions

skin to skin with sling OTHER

In the intervention group, skin-to-skin contact will be facilitated using a specially designed sling. This approach aims to enhance the quality and duration of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy mothers who gave birth by cesarean section
• Primiparous mothers
• Healthy newborns

You may not qualify if:

• Mothers who gave birth vaginally
• Newborns using formula milk
• Mothers with breastfeeding difficulties
• Preterm newborns
• Multiple births
• Mothers and newborns with unstable health conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Acibadem University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Merve Coşkun

Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Takahashi Y, Tamakoshi K, Matsushima M, Kawabe T. Comparison of salivary cortisol, heart rate, and oxygen saturation between early skin-to-skin contact with different initiation and duration times in healthy, full-term infants. Early Hum Dev. 2011 Mar;87(3):151-7. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.11.012. Epub 2011 Jan 8.

  PMID: 21220191 RESULT

• Wigglesworth H, Huddy V, Knowles R, Millings A. Evaluating the impact of sling provision and training upon maternal mental health, wellbeing and parenting: A randomised feasibility trial. PLoS One. 2023 Nov 10;18(11):e0293501. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293501. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 37948400 RESULT

• Kollmann M, Aldrian L, Scheuchenegger A, Mautner E, Herzog SA, Urlesberger B, Raggam RB, Lang U, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Klaritsch P. Early skin-to-skin contact after cesarean section: A randomized clinical pilot study. PLoS One. 2017 Feb 23;12(2):e0168783. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168783. eCollection 2017.

  PMID: 28231274 RESULT

• Gouchon S, Gregori D, Picotto A, Patrucco G, Nangeroni M, Di Giulio P. Skin-to-skin contact after cesarean delivery: an experimental study. Nurs Res. 2010 Mar-Apr;59(2):78-84. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181d1a8bc.

  PMID: 20179657 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Feeding

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: In the single-blind method, subjects do not know which of the experimental or control groups they were selected and therefore which method was applied to them. The researcher knows the subjects selected for the experimental and control groups, and therefore which method was applied to which subjects.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Randomized Controlled Experimental Design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2024
• First Posted: July 16, 2024
• Study Start: September 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 11, 2025
• Study Completion: August 11, 2025
• Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: after the publication
• Access Criteria: Online database link will be sent

Locations

TU (1)