Effect of early skin‐to‐skin contact after vaginal delivery on pain during perineal wound suturing: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Aim To evaluate whether early skin‐to‐skin contact at the end of the second stage of labor could relieve perineal wound suture pain. Methods From March 2020 to November 2020, a total of 241 parturients with full‐term single fetuses delivered through the vagina and who underwent episiotomy suture ( n = 120) or perineal laceration repair ( n = 121) in our hospital were included in the study. Parturients were categorized according to whether they received episiotomy suture or perineal laceration repair. They were randomized into an early skin contact group and a traditional neonatal care group. The primary outcome was pain, which was quantified by the Numerical Rating Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Verbal Rating Scale, Faces Pain Scale‐Revised. The secondary outcomes were healing of the perineal wound, the maternal cooperation rate and operation time. The confounding factors of severe pain were analyzed. Results Early skin‐to‐skin contact alleviated the pain of perineal laceration repair and episiotomy suture, shortened the operation time of episiotomy suture and improved the cooperation rate of parturients receiving suture. It had no effect on perineal wound healing, operation time, or the cooperation rate of perineal laceration repair. In addition to the operation and early skin contact, the occurrence of high‐grade pain was also associated with prepregnancy body mass index, group B streptococcus (GBS) positive, and academic degree. Conclusion Early skin‐to‐skin contact at the end of the second stage of labor can alleviate pain and improve the delivery experience of vaginal delivery.