The effect of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on the involution process and maternal postpartum fatigue during the early postpartum period

Evidence has been limited on the effect of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on the involution process and maternal postpartum fatigue. This study aimed to determine such effects in a randomized controlled trial conducted in a hospital in Sivas, Turkey. Seventy-five women were randomized into one of two groups. The Mother-Infant Information Form, Involution Process Evaluation Form and Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue were used to collect data between October 1, 2015 and May 1, 2016. Repeated Measures ANOVAs were used for data analyzes. In the intervention group, routine care and mother-to-infant skin-to-skin contact were provided for 30 minutes in first postnatal hour. In the control group, routine care was provided. At the postnatal second, fourth and 24th hours, fundus heights were 13.4 +/- 0.3, 12.9 +/- 0.3 and 11.8 +/- 0.3 cm, respectively, in the intervention group, and 14.4 +/- 0.4, 13.8 +/- 0.3 and 12.9 +/- 0.3 cm in the control group (p < .05). At the 24th hour, women in the intervention group had higher mean energy levels (29.8 +/- 10.1) than the control group (25.1 +/- 10.0) (p < .05), and fatigue score, amount of lochia and number of pads were statistically similar between the groups (p > .05). Mothers expressed satisfaction with skin-to-skin practice. Thus, mother-to-infant skin-to-skin contact can be used as a care practice in the postpartum period.