Impact of standardized skin-to-skin protocol in the operating room on breastfeeding rates

Abstract

<p>Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an evidence-based practice with many benefits for mothers and their newborns. The separation of mothers from their babies after cesarean birth delays SSC, which can adversely affect the initiation and the success of breastfeeding. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of Hung and Berg&rsquo;s evidence-based protocol for skin-to-skin in the operating room (OR) would increase exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge for adult women status post a cesarean delivery in a rural Arizona hospital over four-weeks. The Iowa model and Lewin&rsquo;s planned change theory were utilized for the project. The total sample size was 24 women: <em>n</em> =15 in the comparative group and <em>n</em> = 9 in the implementation group. Data were obtained from the facility&rsquo;s electronic medical record (EMR). To analyze the comparative and implementation group data, a Mann-Whitney U test was utilized, and the results revealed (<em>U</em> = 52.5, <em>p</em> = .379). The results revealed there was no statistically significant difference between exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge between groups. Despite the lack of statistical significance (due to the small sample size and time frame), there was clinical significance noted as there were two more women post-implementation who exclusively breastfed at discharge. Therefore, it is recommended that the practice of SSC be sustained at the project site, and further duplication of the project conducted to include vaginal deliveries over a longer period of time to determine true statistical and clinical significance.</p>