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Family-centered cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.
Jessica J F Kram1, Michelle O Montgomery2, Ana C Perez Moreno3
1Aurora UW Medical Group, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, WI (Ms Kram and Dr Forgie); Center for Urban Population Health, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, WI (Ms Kram).
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
|August 28, 2021
Summary
Family-centered cesarean delivery significantly speeds up early skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. While maternal satisfaction and other outcomes were similar, earlier contact offers benefits without harm, allowing patient choice.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Cesarean deliveries are common globally, yet often associated with lower maternal satisfaction and delayed skin-to-skin contact.
- The family-centered cesarean is a technique designed to improve the birthing experience by allowing mothers to see and immediately hold their newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare maternal satisfaction with birthing experiences between family-centered and traditional cesarean deliveries.
- To evaluate differences in the timing of skin-to-skin contact and maternal/neonatal outcomes between the two cesarean methods.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 129 pregnant women undergoing planned cesarean delivery.
- Participants were assigned to either family-centered (N=68) or traditional (N=61) cesarean delivery.
- Maternal satisfaction was assessed via questionnaire, and time to skin-to-skin contact was objectively measured.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in maternal satisfaction was found between the two groups (4.6 vs 4.4; P=.27).
- Family-centered cesarean delivery resulted in significantly earlier skin-to-skin contact, averaging 11.2 minutes sooner than traditional cesarean (5.1 vs 16.3 minutes; P<.01).
- No other significant differences in maternal or neonatal outcomes were observed.
Conclusions:
- Family-centered cesarean delivery is strongly associated with earlier skin-to-skin contact.
- The benefits of earlier skin-to-skin contact, without apparent harm, support offering women the choice between family-centered and traditional cesarean delivery based on personal preference.
