TITLE:
The Effect of the Duration of the Mother-Newborn Stay after Caesarean Section on Maternal Pain and Satisfaction Level
AUTHORS:
Luba Tsiprun, Elfenesh Yehezkias
KEYWORDS:
Bonding, Childbirth, Mother-Newborn Together Stay, Satisfaction, Pain Level
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.16 No.3,
March
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Mothers and newborns have an emotional need to be together. The study hospital continuously upgrades policies to promote bonding and minimize separation. Currently, three options are offered for a mother-newborn contact after Cesarean Section (CS): A brief bond immediately after birth (Regular); Partial contact until one hour newborn’s age (Friendly); Continuous contact without separation (Gentle). Aim: The study aimed to assess how the duration of mother-newborn stay affects maternal pain and satisfaction. Method: Between August 2023 and July 2025, 62 women participated. Pain was measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS): no pain (0); mild (1 - 3); moderate (4 - 7); severe (8 - 10). Satisfaction was assessed by the Comforts Scale Questionnaire, which evaluates provision of choice, nursing care, teaching maternal and newborn care, privacy, the physical environment, and confidence in newborn care. Results: The study found that more participants in a friendly stay reported a traumatic childbirth in the past. Women with academic education experienced less pain and were less confident in neonatal care. Participants in their first birth were less confident in neonatal care. Women in the gentle stay reported less pain compared to those in the friendly stay, and participants in the friendly stay reported less pain than those in the regular stay. An inverse relationship was found between pain levels and satisfaction with privacy, nursing care, physical environment, and overall satisfaction. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of encouraging longer duration of mother-infant stay following cesarean section, which is associated with reduced pain, increased satisfaction with privacy, nursing care and physical conditions. Mothers with traumatic pregnancy history showed a higher demand for longer stay. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between education and pain and satisfaction levels.