Association Between Early Skin-To-Skin Contact and Postpartum Maternal Wellbeing: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: To identify perinatal factors associated with early maternal-newborn skin-to-skin contact after birth and examine associations between contact duration, birth satisfaction and postpartum mental wellbeing.

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional survey design was used.

METHODS

An anonymous online survey included 985 women in the Czech Republic, recruited by non-probability convenience sampling. Measures assessed perinatal characteristics, birth satisfaction, depressive symptoms and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress symptoms. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests included effect sizes and multiplicity-adjusted post hoc comparisons. Multivariable linear and logistic models adjusted for maternal, pregnancy, birth and newborn factors.

RESULTS

Skin-to-skin contact duration was associated with parity, pregnancy course, mode and timing of birth, newborn health and time since birth. Women reporting no contact had the lowest birth satisfaction and highest mental-health screening scores. Adjusted odds of positive screening for both outcomes (depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms) were lower for > 30-120 and > 120 min of contact, but not ≤ 30 min, compared with no contact. All contact-duration groups had higher adjusted birth satisfaction, with the largest difference for > 120 min.

CONCLUSION

Early skin-to-skin contact was associated with higher birth satisfaction and more favourable maternal mental-health screening outcomes. The design and sampling do not permit causal inference.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Clinical practice guidelines for midwives, obstetric and neonatal nurses should focus not only on initiating skin-to-skin contact but also on sustaining its duration and safely overcoming barriers during complicated births.

IMPACT: By highlighting how the duration of early uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact is associated with long-term maternal mental well-being, this study contributes valuable insights to maternal and child healthcare and underscores the psychological relevance of early mother-infant contact.

REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There was no patient or public involvement; postpartum women participated as consenting survey respondents.