Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Caring Sciences 2251-9920 8 2 2019 06 01 Effect of the Sacred Hour on Postnatal Depression in Traumatic Childbirth: a Randomized Controlled Trial 69 74 10.15171/jcs.2019.010 EN Sedigheh Abdollahpour https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6112-0052 Nahid Bolbolhaghighi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2879-7894 Ahmad Khosravi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1106-3782 Journal Article 10.15171/jcs.2019.010 2018 03 11 2018 07 25 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.