Effect of skin-to-skin contact on the sucking adequacy of newborns and breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers in cesarean deliveries: a randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on newborns’ sucking adequacy and mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) after C-section with spinal anesthesia. This was a randomized controlled experimental study. The group without SSC received routine hospital care, including routine breastfeeding support; the SSC group was informed about breastfeeding and SSC before birth. After birth, breastfeeding with SSC was initiated in the post-operative care unit. Data were collected using an Information Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-short form (BSES-SF), and LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool. The rates of exclusive breastfeeding of newborns in the SSC group were higher than those in the group without SSC on postpartum days 5–30 ( p < 0.05). The mean LATCH score of the newborns in the SSC group was higher than that of those in the group without SSC in the first postpartum hours (approximately 1–3 h after birth) ( p < 0.05); however, no difference was found between the groups on postpartum days 5–30. The mean BSES-SF score of the mothers in the SSC group was lower than that of the group without SSC before delivery, in the first postpartum hours, and on day 5 ( p > 0.05); however, that score was higher than that of the group without SSC on postpartum day 30 ( p < 0.05). This study showed that early implementation of SSC increased the exclusive breastfeeding rate and sucking adequacy of newborns and the BSE of mothers. This study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as the registration number NCT05697653 (21/12/2022).