The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Postoperative Depression and Physical Recovery of Parturients after Cesarean Section in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department

Abstract

The effect of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on postpartum depression and physical rehabilitation of cesarean section women was explored. 280 parturients undergoing cesarean section were selected and were rolled into two groups randomly. The parturients in the control group (Con group, 140 cases) received routine care, and those in the experimental group (Exp group, 140 cases) received SSC on the basis of routine care. The postpartum depression and physical recovery of parturients in two groups were compared. It was found that, in the Exp group, the number of pregnant women with no or with very mild depression was much more 85% vs. 55%), the number of women with adequate lactation was more (53 cases vs. 27 cases), the first lactation time (FLT) was dramatically shorter ( $41.25\pm 4.81\text{h}$ vs. $58.43\pm 5.43\text{h}$ ), the breastfeeding success rate (BFSR) and breastfeeding rate (BFR) were obvious higher, the days for uterine involution was much shorter ( $6.96\pm 1.13$ days vs. $9.47\pm 1.75$ days), the descent of uterine fundus 24 hours after delivery (24 h-DUF) was obviously larger ( $3.17\pm 0.26$  mm vs. $1.56\pm 0.43$  mm), the duration of lochia (DOL) was remarkably shorter ( $33.21\pm 5.32$ days vs. $25.32\pm 3.54$ days), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was lower ( $4.88\pm 0.32$ points vs. $3.41\pm 0.53$ points), showing statistical differences for all above indicators ( $P<0.05$ ). It suggested that SSC could effectively relieve the postpartum depression of uterine parturients, promote the lactation, increase the BFR, facilitate uterine involution, and alleviate chronic uterine inflammation and postpartum pain, showing high clinical application and promotion value.