Skin-to-Skin Contact and Lavender Aromatherapy After Elective Cesarean: Effects on Cortisol and Early Breastfeeding

Summary

This single-center randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate the effects of structured early postpartum mother-infant skin-to-skin contact, with or without maternal lavender aromatherapy, after elective cesarean section on maternal stress biomarkers and early breastfeeding outcomes. The study will enroll 150 term pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia at Ataturk University Research Hospital. Participants will be randomized into three groups: routine postoperative care, structured skin-to-skin contact, and structured skin-to-skin contact combined with inhalational lavender aromatherapy. The primary outcome is the change in maternal salivary cortisol level from immediately after birth to 60 minutes postpartum. Secondary outcomes include maternal salivary IgA levels, state anxiety scores, postoperative pain and nausea, time to first analgesic requirement, early breastfeeding initiation and success, LATCH scores, neonatal axillary temperature, cumulative duration and continuity of skin-to-skin contact, maternal satisfaction, and the need for mother-infant separation within the first 2 hours postpartum.

Conditions

• Breastfeeding
• Cesarean Section
• Postpartum Period
• Maternal Stress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Structured early postpartum mother-infant skin-to-skin contact

A structured early postpartum skin-to-skin contact protocol applied after elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Following stabilization of the mother and newborn, the naked neonate is placed prone on the mother's bare chest and covered with a warm blanket. Continuous skin-to-skin contact is maintained during the first 60 minutes postpartum as tolerated, and cumulative duration, number of interruptions, and reasons for interruption are recorded.

OTHER

Maternal inhalational lavender aromatherapy

Maternal inhalational aromatherapy using lavender essential oil during the early postpartum period after elective cesarean section. Lavender oil is applied via inhalation using a cotton pad or similar carrier placed near the mother's face during the first 60 minutes postpartum, in combination with the structured skin-to-skin contact protocol, as tolerated. Tolerance to aromatherapy and any adverse reactions are monitored and recorded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ataturk University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• kamber kasali, PhD · Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Erzurum, Turkey

• gamzenur cimilli senocak, MD · Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzurum, Turkey

• orhan buyukkurt, MD · Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2026-06-01

Completion

2027-12-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations