BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain management after a cesarean section remains a significant challenge, as inadequate control can delay maternal recovery and hinder early bonding and breastfeeding. While multimodal analgesia is the standard approach, non-pharmacological strategies like immediate skin-to-skin contact (SSC) are often underused despite their potential benefits in reducing pain, improving uterine contractions, and increasing maternal satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of immediate SSC on postoperative pain perception, uterine contraction quality, and maternal satisfaction, and to explore ways to incorporate SSC into routine post-cesarean care to promote recovery and humanized care.

METHOD

A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 80 women undergoing elective cesarean sections, divided into two groups: SSC (40 women) and control (40 women). Postoperative pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at various intervals, while uterine contraction quality and maternal satisfaction were assessed through clinical observation and a Likert scale, respectively.

RESULTS

We found that women in the SSC group experienced significantly lower pain scores (VAS2 and VAS3, < 0.001), stronger infraumbilical uterine contractions (92.5%, < 0.001), and higher satisfaction levels (average 9.98 vs. 6.50, < 0.001). An inverse correlation was observed between pain intensity and satisfaction, indicating that SSC enhances both physiological and psychological recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate SSC after cesarean is an effective, humanizing intervention that reduces pain, supports uterine contractions, and boosts maternal satisfaction. These findings advocate for integrating SSC into standard postoperative care, aligning with ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy. Further research with larger samples is necessary to confirm these benefits and facilitate widespread adoption in maternity protocols.