The Effect of Postpartum Mother–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact on Exclusive Breastfeeding in Neonatal Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background the rate of exclusive breast feeding is low in many societies and has diminished in recent years in iran. this study was conducted to determine the effects of postpartum mother–infant skin-to-skin contact on exclusive breastfeeding in neonatal period. materials and methods this was a randomized control trial. 114 healthy primiparous mothers and their neonates were recruited in om-ol-banin hospital in mashhad, iran. upon hospital admission, mothers in active labor were allocated randomly to either ssc or routine care. in the intervention group, ssc was continuously performed during the first 2 hours post-birth. in controls as is routine om-ol-banin hospital, the first contact and breastfeeding were initiated after repairing the routine episiotomy and delivering neonates routine care. mothers in both groups were interviewed on the 28th days postpartum to determine the exclusive breastfeeding in neonatal period.results there was significant difference between two groups in the rate of breastfeeding initiation in the first 30 minutes post birth (p<0.05). the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly higher in the ssc group from birth to day 28 (40.4% vs. 20%, p<0.05) and in the last 24-hour report of 28th day post-birth (70.2% vs. 46.7%, p<0.05).conclusion continuous ssc during the first 2 hours of post-birth in primiparous mothers compared to routine care of baby friendly hospitals significantly enhances the rate of breastfeeding initiation in the first 30 minutes post birth and exclusive breastfeeding in the neonatal period.