A scientific study has stated that direct skin-to-skin contact between the newborn baby and its mother immediately after birth gives the child a better start in life and improves a number of important health indicators, according to an updated systematic review conducted by a research team affiliated with the international Cochrane Foundation. The study confirmed that this simple practice, known as “direct skin contact,” contributes to the improvement of exclusive breastfeeding and the regulation of body temperature and blood sugar levels in newborns, compared to children who do not have this experience. The study showed that placing the baby naked on the mother’s bare chest immediately after birth helps him adapt to life outside the womb, as it preserves his warmth, reduces stress and crying, and helps regulate vital functions such as breathing and heart rate. The results indicated that children who had skin-to-skin contact with their mothers during the first hour of birth showed clearly better health indicators than those who did not have this opportunity. Are the benefits of direct skin contact limited to children only? The researchers confirmed that the benefits of direct skin-to-skin contact were not limited to children but also extended to mothers, although the evidence regarding its effect on blood loss or the timing of placental expulsion was less clear. The results indicated that mothers who started skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth were more able to exclusively breastfeed their babies during the first six months of the baby’s life, a practice that benefits the health of both the mother and the baby, as well as reducing the health burdens on medical systems. The study revealed that about 75% of the children who received early skin-to-skin contact with their mothers were exclusively breastfed one month after birth, compared to only 55% among the children who did not undergo the experience. The results showed that newborns who benefited from this practice showed more stable blood sugar levels, more balanced body temperatures, more regular breathing, as well as healthy heart rates. The review showed that immediate skin contact is a simple, safe and effective intervention that can be easily applied without the need for additional equipment or cost. However, it is not sufficiently applied, even in countries with advanced health systems. The study showed that many hospitals still separate the mother and her newborn immediately after birth to carry out routine examinations such as weighing the child, physical examination and bathing him, depriving the mother and baby of the benefits of those early moments. A global standard for postpartum care The study called for a change in this type of medical practice, emphasizing that direct skin contact should be considered a global standard for postpartum care. The researchers recommended that no further randomized trials be conducted comparing skin-to-skin contact with traditional care involving separation of mother and child, because such studies are no longer ethical in light of the conclusive evidence of the benefit of direct contact. The study highlighted that preventing skin-to-skin contact after birth has become an unethical practice as evidence has become sufficient to prove its significant benefits in improving the health of newborns and increasing their chances of survival. Immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth increases the chances of exclusive breastfeeding success Karen Cadwell, lead author of the study The lead author of the study, Karen Cadwell, executive director of the Center for Healthy Babies at the Breastfeeding Project, said that the abstinence from this practice has become morally unjustified, because depriving the newborn of the newborn life can deprive a better opportunity. exposing him to health risks that were It can be avoided. The researchers cited previous trials conducted in hospitals in India and Africa, where one large trial was halted after preliminary data emerged confirming that immediate skin contact significantly improved survival rates for low-weight children. The study showed that such results make the continuation of any experiment that deprives children of this type of care scientifically unacceptable and inhumane. The study highlighted that the new review comes as a continuation of an update done in 2016, which was relied on by more than 20 global bodies in formulating their medical guidelines, including the World Health Organization. The latest version added 26 new studies to the database, bringing the total number of trials analyzed to 69 trials involving more than seven thousand mother-infant pairs, most of which were conducted in high-income countries. What are the most prominent benefits of immediate skin contact after birth? The results also showed that practicing immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth increases the chances of successful exclusive breastfeeding, a result that is linked to a number of long-term health benefits such as strengthening the immune system, reducing the risk of infection, helping to build emotional bonds between mother and child, as well as reducing the possibility of postpartum depression. Despite the clear benefits, researchers note that the practice is still not widespread enough in many medical institutions, as some maternity units continue to follow outdated protocols that prioritize medical examinations and procedures at the expense of the initial human contact between the mother and her child. The study pointed out that this simple practice does not require special equipment, but rather depends on providing moments of physical contact between the mother and her newborn immediately after birth, without interruption even after the end of the first breastfeeding. The researchers emphasized that any delay or separation between the mother and her child at this sensitive stage deprives the newborn of a valuable opportunity to adapt to its new environment. The scientific team confirmed that the evidence supporting skin-to-skin contact has become strong enough to change health care practices on a global level, calling for it to be included in birth protocols as a basic procedure and not an optional one. He noted that the World Health Organization has already recommended this practice as part of the standards of optimal postpartum care, but its practical application still varies between countries. The review focused on the importance of moving from the stage of proof of benefit to the stage of practical application, as emerging research efforts should be directed at improving the quality of studies and developing methods of implementation and follow-up in different settings, rather than retesting the intervention itself. The researchers recommended focusing on understanding the obstacles that hinder the full implementation of this procedure in hospitals and health centers, and overcoming them through awareness and training. The cornerstone of children’s mental health in the future. The study also indicated that most of the research included in the review was conducted in high- and middle-income countries, while no studies from low-income countries were included, representing a knowledge gap that needs to be filled in the future. The research team showed that the importance of skin-to-skin contact can be greater in resource-limited environments, as it can make a crucial difference in children’s survival rates. The researchers pointed out that the positive effect of skin-to-skin contact is not only limited to the physiological results, but also extends to the psychological and emotional aspects, as these first moments between the mother and her child strengthen feelings of safety and trust, and contribute to the strengthening of the emotional relationship between them. They pointed out that this early connection is the cornerstone of the child’s mental health in the future, because it establishes his sense of belonging and security from the first moments of his life. The study also showed that direct skin contact can reduce the levels of the stress hormone “cortisol” in both the child and the mother, making it a natural way to reduce psychological stress after birth. It also contributes to stabilizing the oxygen levels in the baby’s blood and gradually improving its breathing rhythm, which are important factors in the first hours of life outside the womb. The researchers focused on the need to educate health professionals about the importance of this simple procedure, stressing that changing the culture of delivery rooms requires a deep understanding of the medical and humanitarian motives behind it, and not just the routine application of a new protocol. They concluded by saying that the success of this practice depends primarily on the collaboration of medical teams with mothers and encouraging them to request direct contact as a natural right for them and their children.
Direct skin-to-skin contact after birth improves lactation and the health of babies
