The Effect of Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care During Third Stage of Labor on Postpartum Blood Loss and Uterine Involution: A Quasi-Experimental Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Obstetric hemorrhage accounts for 27.1% of all maternal death worldwide. Of all obstetric hemorrhages, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) accounts for 72%. The physiological management of the third stage of labor is a growing area as a preventive measure to control postpartum blood loss. Immediate kangaroo mother care (KMC) is suggested as one of the physiological management methods of the third stage of labor to reduce postpartum blood loss. The duration of the third stage of labor, uterine involution, and amount of postpartum blood loss are the physiological parameters of effective management of the third stage of labor. Examining the absolute effects of immediate KMC on maternal physiological parameters is needed in different populations with different settings. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of immediate KMC on uterine involution and postpartum blood loss.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental comparative design was conducted in the labor and delivery room at Maternity and Children Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A sample of 80 women was divided into two equal groups: a treatment group that underwent immediate KMC and a control group that received routine care.

INSTRUMENT: A questionnaire developed by the researchers was used to collect the data.

RESULTS: The effects of immediate KMC were significant concerning uterine involution and regarding the uterine position immediately after placenta separation (70% at umbilicus, χ2 = 8.5, p < 0.01), postpartum blood loss (χ2 = 76.098, p < 0.00), the heaviness of lochia (χ2 = 44.679, p = 0.00), and the number of pads used in the first 24 h (p < 0.001).