Edinburgh Napier University

  Background: The benefits of immediate safe, observed, skin-to-skin contact following birth are well documented and established best practice following vaginal birth in the United Kingdom (UK). However, women who deliver their babies by caesarean section are less likely to achieve skin-to-skin contact within one hour of birth. This narrative literature review aims to identify and appraise current evidence of factors which influence why women are not facilitated to achieve skin-to-skin contact in theatre following an elective caesarean section birth.

Methods: A total of 19 sources of evidence from national and international policy, best practice, expert opinion and research were thematically synthesised. Recurrent themes were identified and summarised under the headings: benefits of skin-to-skin contact; policy and guidelines and barriers and enablers to skin-to-skin contact.

Results: The narrative literature review clearly highlights numerous benefits of skin-toskin contact for both the mother and baby and importantly establishes no additional risks associated with safe, observed, skin-to-skin contact when a mother is alert and responsive following an elective caesarean birth. However, immediate skin-to-skin contact continues to be less likely to be achieved by families having a caesarean birth compared with those having a vaginal birth. This review highlights a lack of understanding of how skin-to-skin contact can be achieved safely within the theatre setting.

Conclusion: Overall, further education and exploration on how skin-to-skin contact can be improved within the theatre setting is recommended.