Skin-to-Skin Contact With a Sling in Primipar Mothers Who Delivered by Cesarean Section

The first hours after birth are critical for the physiological and psychological adaptation process of the newborn from intrauterine to extrauterine life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends skin-to-skin contact as a routine part of care to stabilize the newborn's vital signs and strengthen the mother-infant bond. However, the rate of skin-to-skin contact in women who give birth by cesarean section is lower compared to vaginal deliveries. Considering the global increase in cesarean birth rates, it is necessary to develop appropriate and practical care methods for mothers and newborns who deliver by cesarean section.

The literature has examined the effects of the duration of skin-to-skin contact on breastfeeding initiation, neonatal hypothermia, and cardiopulmonary stability. However, studies aimed at increasing the duration of skin-to-skin contact are limited. This study compares the effects of standard skin-to-skin contact and skin-to-skin contact using a sling on the duration of skin-to-skin contact, postpartum breastfeeding success, and physiological weight loss of the newborn in primiparous mothers who delivered by cesarean section.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Feeding Behavior Caesarean Section;Stillbirth Feeding Behavior

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Merve Coşkun

Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Healthy mothers who gave birth by cesarean section
Primiparous mothers
Healthy newborns

Exclusion criteria

Mothers who gave birth vaginally
Newborns using formula milk
Mothers with breastfeeding difficulties
Preterm newborns
Multiple births
Mothers and newborns with unstable health conditions

Treatment and study plan

skin to skin with sling

Other

In the intervention group, skin-to-skin contact will be facilitated using a specially designed sling. This approach aims to enhance the quality and duration of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn.

Primary outcomes

Introductory Information Form

Time frame: Baseline (to both groups before the intervention)

The introductory characteristics of the mother and newborn are documented in forms used by the institution during patient care and in records. These forms are created by the researchers to systematize the information used in this study.
Skin-to-Skin Contact Tracking Form

Time frame: To be completed during patient follow-up (postpartum days 0, 1, and 2)

This form is created by the researchers to determine the duration of skin-to-skin contact for each participant.
Breastfeeding Assessment Scale (LATCH)

Time frame: To be completed during patient follow-up, once a day (postpartum days 0, 1, and 2)

The scale, developed by Jensen and Wallace in 1993, aims to objectively assess breastfeeding, identify breastfeeding problems, plan education, establish a common language among healthcare professionals, and be used in research (Jensen et al., 1994). The scale was adapted into Turkish by Yenal and Okumuş in 2003 and consists of five assessment steps. It is modeled after the APGAR scoring system and is quick and easy to use. The acronym LATCH stands for the English terms of these assessment steps: "L = Latch on breast," "A = Audible swallowing," "T = Type of nipple," "C = Comfort breast/nipple," "H = Hold." Each item is scored between 0-2 points. The total possible score from the measurement tool is 10. There is no cut-off point for the tool. As the LATCH score increases, the success of breastfeeding is understood to be higher. The scale has a Cronbach alpha value of .95 (Yenal and Okumuş, 2003).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Acibadem University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Jul 16, 2024
Registry last updated: Jan 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed