The effect of early skin-to-skin contact after cesarean section on breastfeeding duration and development of atopic-allergic diseases

• Published in: European journal of midwifery Vol. 8; no. January; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Stephan, Yvonne, Müller, Hans-Helge, Kühnert, Maritta, Meinhold-Heerlein, Ivo, Ibrahimi, Gentiana, Reitz, Maleen, Schemmann, Hannah, Oehmke, Frank, Köhler, Siegmund, Renz, Harald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece European Publishing 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Research Paper; skin-to-skin contact; atopic dermatitis; atopic-allergic diseases; cesarean section; skin contact; breastfeeding
• DOI: 10.18332/EJM/176213
• EISSN: 2585-2906

Breastfeeding to strengthen the immune system suggests allergy prevention as a possible option. The connection between breastfeeding and the development of atopic-allergic diseases is being discussed. The primary aim of this work was to investigate an association of the first early skin-to-skin contact following cesarean section with the development of atopic diseases within the 1st year of life.
The present study was conducted as a bicentric prospective cohort study in central Germany with a 15-month recruitment period. Data collection was by telephone interviews with a follow-up of 12 months. The statistical evaluation procedure was based on a hierarchical test of the association of early skin-to-skin contact between mother and child with the two main outcome measures. The primary outcome is the duration of breastfeeding. The second outcome is the onset of atopic-allergic disease within the 1st year of life.
Mothers breastfed longer if they had skin-to-skin contact within the first 30 minutes postpartum [χ²(df=5) = 19.020, p=0.002], if they breastfed their newborns early immediately after birth (p<0.001), and if the first skin-to-skin contact lasted more than one hour [χ²(df=4) = 19.617, p<0.001]. Regarding atopic-allergic diseases, no significant effects of skin-to-skin contact were found in relation to disease development. Regarding breastfeeding, no significant effects of atopic-allergic diseases could be detected either.
The results of this study reflect the benefits of skin-to-skin contact in the context of breastfeeding and atopic disease. The current scientific knowledge regarding skin contact and the development of atopic-allergic diseases should be extended and deepened.