The effect of Mother/Infant skin-to-skin contact on postpartum depressive symptoms in women with low obstetric risk

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression can interfere with bonding between the mother and the child. The skin-to-skin contact is defined as the contact of the newborn, dry and naked, prone on the mother's bare chest and with a warm blanket placed across the infant's back; this contact takes place immediately after delivery, for at least an hour. 

Objective: To examine the relationship between skin-to-skin contact and the incidence of depressive symptoms in women with low risk pregnancies. 

Patients and Method: A prospective analytical study was performed in 393 postpartum women with low obstetric risk in order to evaluate the postpartum depressive symptomatology and its association with biodemographic and skin-to-skin contact variables. Data were collected through a questionnaire at 24 to 48 hours postpartum and through telephone follow-up, at 8 weeks postpartum, in order to screen depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Depression Scale. 

Results: 29% of women reported depressive symptoms. The analysis showed that skin-to-skin contact and early initiation of breastfeeding are significantly associated with the absence of postpartum depressive symptomatology. 

Conclusion: Skin-to-skin contact was the only variable in this study that can explain the absence of depressive symptoms in women with low risk pregnancies. Skin-to-skin contact implementation is suggested as a preventive strategy.