A Comparison of the Effect of Short Abdominal Skin-To-Skin Contact and Kangaroo Skin Contact on Initiation of Successful Breastfeeding

Kangaroo skin contact is an important factor in breastfeeding. However, in contrast to abdominal contact, it is considered timely. Therefore, while shortening the contact time, this study aims at comparing the effects of short abdominal skin-to-skin contact and Kangaroo skin contact on successful breastfeeding.
This clinical trial study was conducted among pregnant women in maternity hospitals of Torbat Heydarieh in 2015. Sixty-eight primigravida women with term pregnancy and aged 18-40 years were selected through convenience sampling and were divided into two groups of intervention (Kangaroo skin contact) and control (abdominal skin contact). Questionnaires about demographic, fertility and medical data were completed for both groups. Infants with 8-10 Apgar and birth weight of 2500 – 4000 g were exposed to Kangaroo skin and abdominal skin contact for 5-10 minutes. After delivery, The Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT) was completed and the mean values of feeding desire, searching, latch on and sucking pattern were analyzed (IRCT: 2014090419039N1).
FINDINGS: The mean feeding desire in the intervention group was 2.63±0.6 and in the control group was 2.61 ± 0.6, searching was 2.76±0.43 and 2.73±0.44, latch on was 2.76±0.43 and 2.79±0.41, sucking pattern was 2.82 ± 0.54 and 2.64 ± 0.64, and total score was 11.84 ± 5.10 and 10.79 ± 1.82, respectively, indicating no significant difference in any of the dimensions.
The results of the study showed that short abdominal skin-to-skin contact and Kangaroo skin contact did not differ significantly regarding their effect on initiation of successful breastfeeding.