Design: A non-experimental, qualitative research design will be utilized to conduct this nursing research study.

Setting: The research setting for this study is Huntington Hospital, which is a 408-bed, Magnet-designated community hospital on Long Island in New York State.

Patients/Participants: English-speaking, new mothers, who are 18 years or older and  having a repeat, elective (non-emergency) Cesarean Section are eligible to participate in this nursing research study. Mothers with newborns requiring the Special Care Unit or transfer out of the hospital are excluded from participating in the study.

Methods: Research has identified benefits associated with Skin-To-Skin Contact for both new mothers and their infants. Nevertheless, application of this valuable bonding technique varies greatly among hospitals. Direct care nurses observed a dichotomy in the birthing experience of mothers having scheduled Cesarean Section (C/S) in comparison to mothers having normal vaginal delivery. C/S mothers had to wait much longer before they could hold their newborn infants and perform Skin-To-Skin Contact with them. Through a collaborative RN/MD initiative, barriers associated with C/S delivery and timely performance of Skin-To-Skin Contact were identified and eliminated. This IRB-approved nursing research study used a non-experimental, qualitative design to describe C/S mothers’ perception of benefits associated with performing Skin-To-Skin Contact with their newborn infants immediately following delivery. Ramona Mercer’s Maternal Attachment Theory was used as the conceptual framework of the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview, which was tape recorded. Data analysis was conducted using Van Manen’s phenomenological method with line by line isolation of thematic statements. Essential themes and subthemes emerged with illuminated the lived experience of C/S mothers.

Results:  Preliminary findings indicate that performing Skin-To-Skin Contact immediately following delivery in the Labor and Delivery Unit decreased C/S mothers’ anxiety regarding infant safety, improved trust/confidence in nurses and improved satisfaction with the C/S birthing experience.

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: Information gained form this study should be used to empower nurses working in Mother/Baby settings to evaluate current practices, promote change and improve the birthing experiences of all new mothers through the use of Skin-To-Skin Contact and other evidence-based nursing practices.

Keywords:  skin to skin contact, breastfeeding, bonding, patient satisfaction post caesarean section