Skin to skin in the operating room
It is possible, it works, and it has to be requested.
In a randomized trial of 659 women having a scheduled cesarean, breastfeeding within 60 minutes of birth occurred in 22% of the control group and in 56% to 72% of the skin-to-skin groups depending on how long contact lasted. Exclusive breastfeeding at discharge rose from 57% to between 62% and 71%.
Skin-to-skin contact after cesarean is also protective against post-traumatic stress symptoms. In a prospective study of nearly 2,800 women, immediate skin-to-skin contact was associated with lower odds of PTSD symptoms at two months.
Say it before the operation"I want the baby skin to skin on my chest in the operating room unless there is a medical reason not to." Written on the chart, this happens. Assumed silently, it usually does not.
Where this comes from:
312. Zhang X, Wang X, Juan J, Yang H, Sobel HL, Li Z, et al. Association of duration of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean delivery in China: a superiority, multicentric randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023;5(9):101033.
332. Froeliger A, Deneux-Tharaux C, Loussert L, Madar H, Sentilhes L. Posttraumatic stress disorder 2 months after cesarean delivery: a multicenter prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;230(5):543.e1-543.e36.
Covered in the essential classes
Continue
More from The operation
This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.