Skin-to-skin contact with father after C-Sec improves wakefulness in newborn: Study

In the study, 95 newborns were randomized to cot, father's arms, or skin-to-skin contact with the father after Caesarean section delivery. Heart rates were higher and showed more stability over time in the skin-to-skin than cot or fathers' arms groups. Wakefulness was also initially higher in the skin-to-skin group.

"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," the authors wrote.

This study focused on the wakefulness and physiological parameters of full‐term infants, who are frequently separated from their parents after an elective Caesarean.The 95 infants were randomised to three groups: cot, fathers' arms or skin‐to‐skin contact with their father and at 15‐minute intervals, from 45 to 120 minutes after birth.The skin‐to‐skin group demonstrated some advantages over the other two groups when it came to establishing stable physiological parameters and wakefulness.

Healthy newborn infants born by elective Caesarean section showed stable physiological patterns, temperature, heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation, when they received three different caregiving models. The father‐infant skin‐to‐skin contact group demonstrated other advantages, and no negative effects were observed. This caregiving model should be supported if mothers and infants need to be separated.

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https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15685