Postcesarean Section Skin-to-Skin Contact of Mother and Child

Abstract

The first hour postpartum is critical for long-term, healthy development. At 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain, we developed and implemented a multidisciplinary strategy based on a consensual, participatory protocol for all health care professionals involved in cesarean deliveries. Our aims were 2-fold: the initiation of skin-to-skin (StS) contact with the newborn immediately after birth, regardless of the feeding method chosen, and the recognition of the importance of a companion present for support during the cesarean section (father or other designated by the mother). The objective of this article is to describe a policy developed to ensure timely postcesarean StS contact. Our protocol for neonatal StS contact with the mother is based on reported benefits found in literature, the World Health Organization’s international recommendations, and deep respect for a process that is both natural and instinctive. We call it “humanizing the cesarean.”