Skin-to-skin contact immediately after a caesarean section has benefits for both mother and newborn, including promoting uterine contraction, according to a Spanish study.

Seville researchers assessed whether immediate skin-to-skin contact between a healthy newborn and mother after a caesarean has a modulatory role on postpartum haemorrhage and uterine contraction. 

Their analysis included 80 women randomly assigned to skin-to-skin contact or usual procedure (40 participants in each group).

Clinical variables assessed included plasma haemoglobin, uterine contraction, breastfeeding and postoperative pain, in the study by Associate Professor José Miguel Pérez-Jiménez, from Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena at the University of Sevilla, and colleagues.