Skin-to-skin contact between mothers and full-term newborns after birth: a cross-sectional study
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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Rosely Sayuri Kuamoto1, Mariana Bueno2, Maria Luiza Gonzalez Riesco1
1Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
to analyze skin-to-skin contact practice in full-term newborns after birth.
Method:
a cross-sectional study carried out in São Paulo-SP with 78 mother-child binomials. Data were obtained from medical records and by non-participant observation. Maternal, neonatal and care conditions, length of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding attachment were analyzed.
Results:
skin-to-skin contact was performed in 94.9% of births, with a mean length of 29 minutes. Births with intact perineum took longer, neonates with Apgar 10, without upper airway aspiration, assisted by a nurse-midwife and with neonatal assistance by a resident in pediatrics. The variables that favor breastfeeding attachment were perineal integrity, newborn with good vitality, without upper airway aspiration and who received professional assistance for breastfeeding attachment.
Conclusion:
skin-to-skin contact was performed in almost all births, but with less time than recommended as best practice.
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