Early Skin-to-Skin Contact Between Mothers and Babies Leads to Longer Exclusive Breastfeeding

Mothers experiencing early skin-to-skin contact with their newborns in the delivery room tend to breastfeed longer, a latest research states.

The study presented at American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, showed that most mother breastfed exclusively if they had early contact with their babies.

The researchers analysed hospital records of 150 babies. They further reviewed the skin-to-skin contact of mothers and babies. They also checked the maternal age, intention to breastfeed, gestational age, delivery method, admission temperature and glucose testing on admission to the newborn nursery.

The results showed that 53 percent of the mothers and babies had skin-to-skin contact with each other. Around 72-percent mothers intended to breastfed their infants exclusively but only 28 percent of them actually did, the researchers stated in press release.

"Breastfeeding is one of the easiest things we can do for babies to make sure they're growing up healthy," said study author Darshna Bhatt, DO, MPH. "While skin-to-skin contact is associated positively with exclusive breastfeeding, the statistically significant factor is intention," she explained.

Bhatt further said that "synergistic effect" between purpose and skin-to-skin contact increased the odds of mothers breastfeeding their babies.

 "We have to create a more interdisciplinary approach to increasing awareness and intention," Bhatt said. "When moms declare their intention to breastfeed, there really shouldn't be a reason why they don't have skin-to-skin contact with her new infant in the delivery room."

In another recent study, the researchers noted that sharing beds with newborns can also lead to longer breastfeeding.