OBJECTIVE:

To compare maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality of surgical births with delayed umbilical cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin contact vs early clamping and neonatal care in radiant heat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Clinical trial, comparative, with a historical control group, without randomization, performed between the months of January 2015 to June 2017 of births registered in a private hospital in Villahermosa, Tabasco. Late umbilical cord clamping, and immediate skin-to-skin contact were performed in all cases.

RESULTS:

The intervention group included 24 mothers and their newborns (delayed clamping and immediate skin-to-skin contact) who were compared with a similar historical group and a minimum follow-up of 6 months. There were no differences in obstetric and neonatal morbidity and mortality between the groups. Of the intervention group 11 mothers and infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months versus 1 mother and infant in the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, 22 mothers and infants in the control group resorted to formula feeding 6 months or more vs 10 in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Mixed or exclusive formula feeding was higher in the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Delayed clamping and immediate skin-to-skin contact at cesarean section are feasible and safe interventions that could encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.