Authors

1Ana María Martín Casado, 2Myriam Viudes Coloma

Position

¹Matrona. Licenciada en Antropología Social y Cultural. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo.²Matrona. Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid.

Contact email: ana_guada@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to analyse the consequences of skin-to-skin contact during the labour process both for the mother and for the healthy newborn.

Methodology: a bibliographic review was performed in the Cochrane Library Plus, Medline databases by means of their Pubmed, Cinahl, Doaj, Cuiden, cuidatge, Ibecs and Lilacs access, for the study period between 1999 and 2009. Boolean­ operators were used for search strategies.

Results: the benefits of early skin to skin contact are extensively documented in the scientific literature. Early contact favours affective bonding, increases the mother’s self-esteem, decreases anxiety, and improves feelings of acceptance of the new role and satisfaction during labour. It also contributes to an effective first breastfeeding and therefore increases its prevalence, extending its use over a longer period of time.

Conclusions: the practices conducted by the majority of Spanish hospitals that systematically separate healthy newborn babies from their mothers right after birth in order to weigh, measure, identify them, etc., are incongruent. We health care professionals are responsible for making a change in care routines in order to offer scientific evidence-based care.

Keywords:

Bibliographic review; bond; breastfeeding; investigation; labour; motherhood; newborn; research; skin to skin contact; woman

Versión en Español

Título:

Importancia del contacto precoz piel con piel en el recién nacido sano durante el trabajo de parto