This study was examine whether Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC), a simple package of care given immediately after birth, could improve the health of both mothers and newborns compared with the routine care currently provided in the hospital. EENC included drying the baby right after birth, placing the baby in direct skin-to-skin contact with the mother, delaying cord clamping until pulsations stop, keeping the baby warm, and helping breastfeeding start within the first hour. In the routine care group, babies were received the usual hospital care, which may include early cord clamping, placement under a radiant warmer, and later skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.

A total of 162 mother-baby pairs were enrolled at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, and randomly assigned to either the EENC group or the routine care group. The study was included women aged 18 to 40 years with singleton term pregnancies who deliver vaginally, and whose babies are expected to weigh at least 2500 grams. Mothers with serious medical or obstetric problems, and newborns with major abnormalities or medical conditions, were not included.

The study was compared important newborn outcomes such as early breastfeeding, time to first breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding up to 7 days, low body temperature, low blood sugar in at-risk babies, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, eye infection, and confirmed infection during the first week of life. Maternal outcomes such as the duration of the third stage of labor, blood loss after delivery, pain, and anxiety were also measured.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female age ≥ 18 to 40 years.
• Gestational age between 37 and 41+6 weeks at the time of delivery.
• Singleton pregnancies confirmed by antenatal assessment.
• Estimated fetal birth weight of 2500 grams or more, based on obstetric ultrasonography.
• Mothers intending to remain admitted in the hospital for a minimum of 24 hours following delivery.
• Delivery must be completed via the vaginal route.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who undergo emergency cesarean section.
• Neonates presenting with congenital deformities.
• Newborns with structural anomalies or medical conditions.
• Mothers experiencing severe obstetric complications or having significant underlying medical illnesses.
• Mothers with contraindications to breastfeeding due to medical conditions (e.g., HIV infection, syphilis, prior breast surgeries, mastitis, or breast abscess).
• Women who decline or are unable to provide informed consent.
• Mother-infant dyads transferred to another healthcare facility within 24 hours postpartum.

Pregnant Females