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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 May;110(5):1461-1467.
doi: 10.1111/apa.15685. Epub 2021 Jan 5.

Newborn infants who received skin-to-skin contact with fathers after Caesarean sections showed stable physiological patterns

Ana Ayala  1   2 , Kyllike Christensson  1 , Eva Christensson  3 , Gabriel Cavada  4 , Kerstin Erlandsson  1   5 , Marianne Velandia  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Newborn infants who received skin-to-skin contact with fathers after Caesarean sections showed stable physiological patterns

Ana Ayala et al. Acta Paediatr. 2021 May.

Abstract

Aim: Separating infants and their parents after a Caesarean section is still the routine care worldwide. This study investigated three caregiving models on the wakefulness and physiological parameters of full-term infants after an elective Caesarean section.

Methods: Newborn infants born in a Chilean public hospital in 2009-12 were randomised to three groups: cot, fathers' arms or skin-to-skin contact with their father. They were assessed at 15-minute intervals, from 45 to 120 minutes after the Caesarean section. Their physiological parameters were measured, and their wakefulness was assessed using the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale.

Results: We studied 95 infant (53% girls) born at a mean gestational age of 38.9 ± 0.9 weeks. Heart rates were significantly higher in the skin-to-skin than cot or fathers' arms groups and showed greater stability over time. Wakefulness was initially higher in the skin-to-skin group, but there were no significant differences by the end of the observation. There were no differences between the groups in peripheral oxygen saturation. Skin-to-skin contact had no negative impact on the infants.

Conclusion: The skin-to-skin group showed some advantages over the cot and fathers' arms groups when it came to establishing stable physiological parameters and wakefulness. This approach should be supported during mother-infant separation.

Keywords: Caesarean section; full-term infants; physiological adaptation; skin-to-skin contact; wakefulness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean temperature at 45 to 120 minutes after birth in the three groups: cot, in the father's arms and skin‐to‐skin group
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean heart rate, beat per minutes (bpm) at 45 to 120 minutes after birth in the three groups: cot, in the father's arms and skin‐to‐skin group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean peripheral oxygen saturation (%) at 45 to 120 minutes after birth in the three groups: cot, in the father's arms and skin‐to‐skin group
Figure 4
Figure 4
Means' wakefulness at 45 to 120 minutes after birth in the three groups: Infant in a cot join is father, infant in the father's arms, and infant skin‐to‐skin group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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