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INTRODUCTION: In comparison to women who deliver vaginally, women who deliver via cesarean section report they are less satisfied with their birthing experience, have later skin-to-skin contact, and delayed mother-newborn interactions. Our study aimed to determine if maternal experiences, as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes, differ between family-centered and traditional cesarean delivery methods. METHODS: Pregnant women with singleton pregnancy ≥ 38 weeks' gestation who underwent planned cesarean delivery at one of two delivery units were enrolled June 2016–July 2018. Women were randomized to either family-centered (Method 1; can view birth, baby placed on chest) or traditional cesarean (Method 2; unable to view birth, baby taken to warmer). Satisfaction was recorded using modified Likert scale, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Baseline characteristics, as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes, were compared using ANOVA and Pearson's chi-squared. This study was approved by local Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: Women in Method 1 (n=68) and Method 2 (n=61) did not significantly differ by baseline characteristics, nor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patients in Method 1 established skin-to-skin contact on average 11 minutes earlier than those in Method 2 (P<.001). Additionally, patients in Method 1 were more satisfied, although not statistically significant (4.6 vs. 4.4 Method 2; P=.27). CONCLUSION: Our study found no statistical differences in maternal satisfaction or maternal/newborn outcomes, between methods. Even so, the family-centered cesarean was significantly associated with earlier skin-to-skin initiation, which has proven benefits. Given our findings, women should be allowed to choose either method of cesarean delivery based on personal preference.

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