Effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on mother-infant relationship and maternal psychology feelings: A qualitative study.
Xiaoyan Feng, Yuqing Zhang
PMID 39031733WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers described skin-to-skin contact as making the baby feel real, easing focus from pain, and speeding their sense of becoming a mother.
Some initially felt fear, but 15 of 18 were willing to continue at home and wanted guidance.
Key findings
01Mothers described skin-to-skin contact as shifting attention away from birth pain toward the newborn and helping them feel calm, healed, and that the birth was worthwhile.
02Some mothers reported fear, tension, rejection, or discomfort at first, but described more positive feelings such as warmth and calm over time.
0315 of 18 mothers were willing to continue skin-to-skin contact at home, and some wanted professional guidance or a clearer view of the baby.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The interviews were conducted after childbirth and after skin-to-skin contact, so feelings may reflect birth itself rather than contact alone. There was no non-contact comparison group, so the study cannot show what would have happened without skin-to-skin contact. Only 18 mothers from one hospital were interviewed; first birth accounted for 83.3%, undergraduate education 55.5%, and master education 22.2%. The time between the end of contact and the interview varied, and later time with the newborn may have changed feelings. The before and after coding counts are counts of interview references, not clinical outcome measures.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article lists a Chongqing Clinical Nursing project and says there was no funding money.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that skin-to-skin contact causes better maternal mood, less pain, or stronger bonding. The study was qualitative, had no non-contact comparison group, interviewed mothers after childbirth, and the authors say the time with the newborn and the birth itself could explain the feelings reported.