The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact Based on Clinical Guidelines on Newborn Stress and Breastfeeding Success

Newborn health indicators are important data that provide information about the welfare level of countries. Health professionals and relevant institutions have important responsibilities in protecting, developing and ensuring the continuity of newborn health. Health professionals use evidence-based practices revealed by scientific studies in their care approaches. Care and follow-up immediately after birth are very important. When the investigators look at the neonatal mortality rate in our country in 2019, it is shown as 5.3 per thousand and 5 per thousand in 2020. Therefore, neonatal-specific programs and practices need to be strengthened in order to reduce both neonatal and postneonatal death rates.

Midwives are the professional group that is with both the mother and the newborn during the birth and postpartum period, can initiate breastfeeding in the early period, and ensure optimal continuation of breastfeeding.

It is very important that the basic health indicators of the newborn improve and that the mother and newborn are monitored at certain standards during and after birth. These monitoring must be done according to the criteria. Genç et al. in 2022 to initiate and maintain skin-to-skin contact with the newborn during the postpartum period. (2023) skin-to-skin contact will be made between the mother and the newborn in accordance with the "Skin-to-Skin Contact and Kangaroo Care Clinical Practice Guide".

Skin-to-skin contact (SC) is the placement of the baby on the mother's chest for at least one hour at birth or immediately after birth. A healthy, full-term baby who receives SC after birth directs himself to his mother's breast and nipple and starts sucking for about an hour. This application has many benefits for mother and baby. If the investigators look at the benefits for the mother; earlier separation of the placenta, reduced postpartum bleeding, increased breastfeeding self-efficacy, and reduced maternal stress levels. In addition, the increase in the mother's oxytocin level in the first hour after birth ensures the development and strengthening of bonding between mother and baby. The benefits for the baby are; These include reducing the negative consequences that may develop due to birth stress, effective thermoregulation, crying less and for a shorter period of time, reducing the likelihood of apnea, less physiological weight loss, and less stress response to painful procedures. At the same time, while SC reduces the rate of formula supplementation in the hospital, it has been shown to increase the initiation of breastfeeding and the level of exclusive breastfeeding, leading to a successful first breastfeeding and optimal breastfeeding.

SC application time and durations vary. SC at birth or immediately after birth: The newborn is placed face to face on the mother's abdomen or chest within the first minute after birth. If medically necessary, suctioning can be done while on the mother's abdomen or chest and the baby is dried thoroughly. To prevent heat loss, the baby's back is covered with a pre-warmed blanket and a hat is placed on his head. All other interventions with the newborn can be postponed until at least the end of the first hour after birth or the first successful breastfeeding.