The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact Applied in the Early Postpartum Period on Maternal Pain, Birth Satisfaction, and Maternal Vital Signs Dynamics

NCT07304037 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 2025/332
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Skin-to-skin contact (STSC) initiated within the first hour after birth is a fundamental practice that supports both the mother's and the newborn's physiological and psychological adaptation (Çelik \& Kök, 2022). The World Health Organization recommends at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted SKC immediately after birth and defines this practice as a mandatory component of care under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (World Health Organization, 2024; Abdulghani et al., 2018; Sharma, 2016). The positive effects of TTT on maintaining the newborn's temperature, glucose regulation, physiological stability, and mother-infant bonding have been proven (Sezici \& Yiğit, 2020; Safar et al., 2018). In addition, it has been reported that it can shorten the third stage of labor by increasing maternal oxytocin release and reduce maternal stress and anxiety (Püsküllüoğlu et al., 2022; Harati Kabir et al., 2024). In the study, mothers in the intervention group will receive one hour of uninterrupted TTT immediately after delivery; routine midwifery care will continue in the control group. In both groups, maternal pain levels, birth satisfaction, and vital signs (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) will be assessed immediately after delivery, and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes. The sample size was calculated using GPower, and a total of 68 participants (34 in each group) will be included in the study. Inclusion criteria include women aged 18 years or older who have had a full-term vaginal delivery and have a single, uncomplicated pregnancy. The data collection tools used will be the Demographic Information Form and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The findings of the study are expected to enhance the quality of midwifery care by supporting the integration of TTT into clinical practice in early postpartum care.

Conditions

Maternal Vital Signs; Skin-to-skin Contact; Birth Satisfaction

Keywords

maternal vital signs; skin-to-skin contact; birth satisfaction; Maternal outcomes; labor pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Visuel Analog Scale -Pain

  Min: 0- Max:10

  At 30, 60, and 90 minutes after birth

• Visuel Analog Scale- Birth satisfaction

  Min:0-Max:10

  At 30, 60, and 90 minutes after birth

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Immediately after birth, skin-to-skin contact is maintained continuously for one hour. Pain levels, birth satisfaction levels, and maternal vital signs (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) are assessed at 30, 60, and 90 minutes postpartum.

Procedure: A solid hour of skin-to-skin contact

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Following delivery, routine midwifery care is provided, and immediately after birth, at 30, 60, and 90 minutes, pain levels, satisfaction with the birth, and maternal physiological findings (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) are assessed.

Interventions

A solid hour of skin-to-skin contact PROCEDURE

Immediately after birth, skin-to-skin contact is maintained for one hour without interruption. Pain levels, birth satisfaction levels, and maternal vital signs (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) are assessed at 30, 60, and 90 minutes postpartum.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: pregnant women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Voluntarily agree to participate in the study
• Be able to read, understand, and write in Turkish
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have given birth vaginally
• Have given birth to a single baby
• Be at term (between 38-42 weeks of gestation)
• Have given birth vaginally in vertex presentation
• Estimated fetal weight between 2500-4000 grams
• Not having received any analgesia or anesthesia to relieve pain and fatigue during labor
• Having a pregnancy without maternal or fetal complications

You may not qualify if:

• Multiple pregnancies
• High-risk pregnancies with complications

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, 34500, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Abdulghani N, Edvardsson K, Amir LH. Worldwide prevalence of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact after vaginal birth: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 31;13(10):e0205696. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205696. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30379859 RESULT

• Sharma A. Efficacy of early skin-to-skin contact on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in term neonates: a randomized controlled trial. Afr Health Sci. 2016 Sep;16(3):790-797. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v16i3.20.

  PMID: 27917213 RESULT

• Safari K, Saeed AA, Hasan SS, Moghaddam-Banaem L. The effect of mother and newborn early skin-to-skin contact on initiation of breastfeeding, newborn temperature and duration of third stage of labor. Int Breastfeed J. 2018 Jul 16;13:32. doi: 10.1186/s13006-018-0174-9. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30026787 RESULT

• Kabir FH, Razavinia F, Keshavarz M, Mousavi SS, Haghani H. Effect of Companion Presence during Skin-to-Skin Contact on Maternal Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Indian Pediatr. 2024 Mar 15;61(3):230-236.

  PMID: 38469838 RESULT

• Püsküllüoğlu, B., Göker, A. & Kosova, F. The effect of skin-to-skin contact on the expulsion time of the placenta and delivery hormones. DEU Tıp Dergisi, 2022, 36(3), 237-242. https://doi.org/10.18614/deutip1230581

  RESULT

• Sezici E, Yigit D. The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Maternal Anxiety, Heart Rate, and Oxygen Saturation during the Vaccination of One-Month-Old Infants. Compr Child Adolesc Nurs. 2020 Dec;43(4):410-420. doi: 10.1080/24694193.2020.1721614. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

  PMID: 32073934 RESULT

• Çelik, İ. & Kök, G. Examination of nurses' and midwives' knowledge and attitudes regarding early skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn. Istanbul Development University Journal of Health Sciences, 2022, 17, 558-574.

  RESULT

Related Links

• World Health Organization, Skin-to-skin contact helps newborns breastfeed. World Health Organization.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Labor Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Yasemin Dinçel

  Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher Assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2025
• First Posted: December 26, 2025
• Study Start: May 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 13, 2025
• Study Completion: April 15, 2026
• Last Updated: December 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)