Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding of newborns in a university hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of skin-to-skin contact (STSC) and breastfeeding (BF) stimulation, as well as the reasons for these practices not to be performed; to identify whether women were given information on these practices along the pre-natal monitoring. Method: A cross-sectional study carried out in a university hospital with 586 women. Data collection was from February to September 2016. Data was collected from patient records and from a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Immediately after birth, 60.1% of the newborns (NBs) had STSC, and 44.9% were stimulated to suck at the breast. After primary care, 24.1% had STSC, and 69.3% were stimulated to suck at the breast; 47.7% of the newborns did not have STSC due to their unfavorable clinical conditions; 79.2% of the women were not able to inform the reason why BF was not stimulated; 58.5% of the women had pre-natal guidance about STSC, and 90.8% about BF. Conclusion: Both STSC and BF rates could be improved, in view of the benefits provided by these practices.