Abstract
Introduction: the implementation of the baby’s nine instinctive stages as a sacred hour after birth is very effective in starting breastfeeding. About half of newly delivered mothers have reported a traumatic childbirth experience often associated with mental health problems. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the sacred hour on the depression in traumatic childbirths.Methods: In this clinical trial, 84 mothers who had experienced a traumatic childbirth were randomly allocated into the intervention (n = 42) and control (n = 42) groups. The intervention group received sacred hour (baby’s nine instinctive responses), but the control group received only the routine care. Postnatal depression was evaluated as primary outcome at 2 week, 4-6 week and 3 month intervals after the delivery. The data were analyzed using t test, chi-square test and the repeated measures analysis of variance.Results: The results showed that the marginal total mean (SD: standard deviation) scores of depression in the intervention and control groups were 7.5 (2.6) and 9.6 (2.6); therefore, the mean difference (95% CI) between the groups (-2.1, (-3.2,-0.95)) was significant.Conclusion: The implementation of the sacred hour is recommended as a preventive approach to reduce the postnatal depression in women with a traumatic childbirth experience.
Highlights
The birth of a newborn is a complex and memorable event in the life of every woman, which can lead to positive, as well as, negative psychological responses and reflections
The present study aimed to examine the effect of the sacred hour on the depression in traumatic childbirths
Consistent with Phillips and colleagues and Brimdyr and colleagues, who showed the importance of the sacred hour,[8,9] this study showed that can the start of breastfeeding and skin to skin contact routinely be performed in all childbirths, and it can prevent postnatal depression or help to increase the speed of recovery score in traumatic childbirths
Summary
The birth of a newborn is a complex and memorable event in the life of every woman, which can lead to positive, as well as, negative psychological responses and reflections. Postnatal depression is a common complication of traumatic childbirth which increases the vulnerability of the mother.[6]
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