To evaluate the effects of kangaroo mother care (KMC) during cesarean section on neonatal health parameters in the "golden hour" of late preterm infants.

A total of 120 singleton pregnant women undergoing preterm cesarean section (34-36⁺⁶ gestational weeks) from January 1 to December 31, 2018 in Jiaxing Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University were prospectively enrolled and divided into two groups (observation and control groups) with 60 cases in each by random number table method. During cesarean section, the both groups received the thorough drying immediately and delayed cord clamping, in addition, the observation group adopted KMC, while the control group received routine maternal and infant care. Several parameters including changes in body temperature, crying, respiration, oxygen saturation and other vital signs, as well as the incidence of hypothermia, transfer to the Department of Neonatology and the success rate of early breastfeeding initiation during the "golden hour" were compared between the two groups. Satisfaction of obstetricians, pediatricians, the pregnant women and their families to KMC and routine maternal and infant care were compared. Two-independent sample t test and Chi-square test were used as statistical methods.

In total, 113 cases (58 in the observation group and 55 in the control group) were finally analyzed. The body temperature of the late preterm infants at 5 and 10 min after birth in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (36.5 vs 36.0 ℃, 36.4 vs 35.8 ℃, t=11.756 and 7.512, both P<0.05), and the body temperature during 15 min-1 h after birth was also higher in the observation group but without statistical significance (all P>0.05). The observation group had a lower incidence of hypothermia [0% (0/58) vs 15% (8/55), χ²=9.079, P<0.001] and a higher success rate of early breastfeeding initiation [86% (50/58) vs 58% (32/55), χ²=11.137, P<0.001] than the control group. The satisfaction scores of obstetricians (19.3±1.1 vs 13.4±1.9, t=20.517), pediatricians (18.2±1.8 vs 12.6±2.1, t=15.382), gravidas (19.6±0.4 vs 13.6±1.6, t=27.723) and their family members (18.2±0.9 vs 15.3±1.1, t=11.535) were all higher in the observation group than those in the control group (all P<0.001).

KMC during cesarean section can improve the body temperature of late premature infants in the "golden hour", reduce the occurrence of hypothermia, facilitate early initiation of breastfeeding and improve the satisfaction of doctors and patients on health care.

Cesarean section; Maternal-child nursing; Neonatal nursing; Feasibility studies; Infant, premature