Early skin-to-skin contact after caesarean section: A randomized clinical pilot study investigating effects on newborn feeding outcomes, maternal emotional wellbeing and oxytocin levels

Background: Early bonding by skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is considered to be beneficial following vaginal delivery. Aim: We aimed to examine the impact of intraoperative bonding during caesarean section on maternal oxytocin levels, newborn feeding outcomes and maternal emotional wellbeing. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized-controlled pilot study, which took place at a single academic tertiary hospital between September 2013 and January 2014. Pregnant women were recruited and randomly assigned to intraoperative (“early”) SCC (n=17) versus postoperative (“late”) SCC (n=18). We investigated maternal oxytocin levels, breastfeeding and newborn feeding outcomes as well as maternal emotional wellbeing. Findings: We found, that maternal oxytocin levels were comparable between the ‘Early SSC Group’ and the ‘Late SSC Group’ at each time point. Newborn drinking volume did not differ significantly on the second (p=0.213) and fourth (p=0.986) day after birth and the necessity of formula supplementation was similar in both groups (p=0.1). There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms and bonding behavior between the ‘Early SSC Group’ and the ‘Late SSC Group’. Discussion: Our study did not reveal significant differences regarding the investigated parameters. However, this needs to be further evaluated in a larger prospective randomized trial. Conclusion: Maternal oxytocin levels, breastfeeding and newborn feeding outcomes, and maternal emotional wellbeing seem to be unvaried by early SSC after caesarean section. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (10/07/2013; NCT01894880)review board approved the protocol (25-425 ex 12/13)