Infant behaviour and maternal adaptation after uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for 1 hour following birth in northern Uganda
Loading...
Date
2019-09-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJM
Abstract
Background/aims Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth
increases the chance of exclusive breastfeeding, a practice which improves health
outcomes for both mothers and neonates. This study aimed to compare mother–infant
pairs who had or did not have skin-to-skin contact 1 hour after birth and investigate
infant behaviour and maternal adaptation as a result.
Methods This study investigated the impact of skin-to-skin contact on a number of
health indicators after birth of both mother and child. Two groups were included: 51
mother–infant pairs with skin-to-skin contact and 152 with no skin-to-skin contact,
who were observed for 1 hour after birth. Mothers were interviewed at discharge and
at 14 weeks postpartum about their sociodemographic background, ability to interpret
their infant’s signals and interaction with the infant, their own health and their infant’s
health and feeding. The Student’s t-test and Chi squared test were used to assess the
associations between the groups and sociodemographic characteristics. The Cramer’s
V test was used to assess the effect size for variable latch on. Factor analysis was
conducted on statements from interviews on mothers’ feelings regarding motherhood.
Results More infants latched on in the skin-to-skin contact group and the first
breastfeeding was more often directed by the infants, compared to the no skin-to-skin
contact group. Mothers in the skin-to-skin contact group were less likely to need help
to breastfeed and tended to be more confident that they could provide sufficient milk
for their child. They were also more likely to breastfeed longer and took no initiative to
supplement the infant during the hospital stay, while mothers in the non-skin-to-skin
contact group did so. More mothers in the skin-to-skin contact group believed that their
infant could comfort itself.
conclusions The results suggest benefits to uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between
mothers and newborns 1 hour after birth in regard to initiation of breastfeeding, intended
time to breastfeed, maternal self-confidence and infant self-regulation. Interventions to
promote skin-to-skin contact should be implemented in this setting.
Key words: Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding self-efficacy; Feelings about motherhood;
Infant interaction; Interpretation of infant cues; Skin-to-skin contact
Description
Keywords
Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding self-efficacy, Feelings about motherhood, Infant interaction, Interpretation of infant cues, Skin-to-skin contact
Citation
Svensson K, Mbalinda S, Nissen E, Mpora B, Waiswa P, Hjelmstedt. Infant behaviour and maternal adaptation after uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for 1 hour following birth in northern Uganda. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 2020. https://doi.org/10.12968/ ajmw.2019.0019