The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact Applied in the Early Postpartum Period on Maternal Pain, Birth Satisfaction, and Maternal Vital Signs Dynamics

Skin-to-skin contact (STSC) initiated within the first hour after birth is a fundamental practice that supports both the mother's and the newborn's physiological and psychological adaptation (Çelik & Kök, 2022). The World Health Organization recommends at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted SKC immediately after birth and defines this practice as a mandatory component of care under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (World Health Organization, 2024; Abdulghani et al., 2018; Sharma, 2016). The positive effects of TTT on maintaining the newborn's temperature, glucose regulation, physiological stability, and mother-infant bonding have been proven (Sezici & Yiğit, 2020; Safar et al., 2018). In addition, it has been reported that it can shorten the third stage of labor by increasing maternal oxytocin release and reduce maternal stress and anxiety (Püsküllüoğlu et al., 2022; Harati Kabir et al., 2024).

In the study, mothers in the intervention group will receive one hour of uninterrupted TTT immediately after delivery; routine midwifery care will continue in the control group. In both groups, maternal pain levels, birth satisfaction, and vital signs (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) will be assessed immediately after delivery, and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes.

The sample size was calculated using GPower, and a total of 68 participants (34 in each group) will be included in the study. Inclusion criteria include women aged 18 years or older who have had a full-term vaginal delivery and have a single, uncomplicated pregnancy. The data collection tools used will be the Demographic Information Form and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

The findings of the study are expected to enhance the quality of midwifery care by supporting the integration of TTT into clinical practice in early postpartum care.

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Maternal Vital Signs Birth Satisfaction Labor Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Skin-to-skin Contact

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, 34500, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

H1: There is a difference in pain scores measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) between the group that received uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for one hour after birth and the control group immediately after birth, at 30, 60, and 90 minutes.

H1: There is a difference in birth satisfaction scores measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) between the group that received uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for one hour after birth and the control group immediately after birth, at 30, 60, and 90 minutes.

H1: There is a difference between the group that received uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for one hour after birth and the control group in terms of maternal body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure measurements taken immediately after birth and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Voluntarily agree to participate in the study
Be able to read, understand, and write in Turkish
Be 18 years of age or older
Have given birth vaginally
Have given birth to a single baby
Be at term (between 38-42 weeks of gestation)
Have given birth vaginally in vertex presentation
Estimated fetal weight between 2500-4000 grams
Not having received any analgesia or anesthesia to relieve pain and fatigue during labor
Having a pregnancy without maternal or fetal complications

Exclusion criteria

Multiple pregnancies
High-risk pregnancies with complications

Treatment and study plan

A solid hour of skin-to-skin contact

Procedure

Immediately after birth, skin-to-skin contact is maintained for one hour without interruption. Pain levels, birth satisfaction levels, and maternal vital signs (body temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure) are assessed at 30, 60, and 90 minutes postpartum.

Primary outcomes

Visuel Analog Scale -Pain

Time frame: At 30, 60, and 90 minutes after birth

Min: 0- Max:10
Visuel Analog Scale- Birth satisfaction

Time frame: At 30, 60, and 90 minutes after birth

Min:0-Max:10

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Dec 26, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 26, 2025

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