Skin to Skin Benefits

What is skin to skin contact with a baby?

Skin on skin contact is when mothers and babies are put together with their skin touching (no blanket or clothing in-between them). You can also lay your baby on your abdomen or chest as much as possible, you do not need to breastfeed, to benefit from skin to skin contact.

Our page about the importance of physical touch.

Wondering about breastfeeding? Read our article: Is breastfeeding important? 

The best hospital warmers cannot warm a baby as quickly and efficiently as full-body skin contact with the mother. A mother's breasts are made in such a way that they can regulate a baby's temperature, in fact, mothers with twin babies will regulate temperature separately on each breast. Warming and cooling them independently. No wonder babies are found to have higher levels of stress hormones when taken away from their mothers. 

During skin to skin contact your baby will not need to burn unnecessary calories to try to stay warm on his/her own. Having your baby close by will encourage breastfeeding, comfort your baby and regulate heart rate and breathing. 

Skin to skin after birth

Early “Skin on skin" contact between the mother and baby after birth should be encouraged, even if the mother has had a c-section; they can spend this time together, even while she is being stitched up. Unless medically necessary, things like suctioning and vitamin K injections can wait until a baby has latched on for the first time. Read more about the importance of breastfeeding immediately after birth.

Breastfeeding Skin to Skin Benefits

The importance of skin to skin contact…

• A baby is usually more content and cries less. A baby will feel safe and can hear their mother's heartbeat, which is familiar to them.
• With skin to skin, the baby is more likely to maintain a stable temperature.
  
• Heart rates have been found to be more normal in babies who are kept skin to skin. 
  
• A skin to skin newborn baby’s blood sugar is stable.
  
• Having your baby skin to skin, not only helps strengthen the maternal bond, but most mothers find that they can more easily recognize their babies needs.
  
• When newborn skin to skin contact is practiced after birth, it allows a baby to familiarize him/herself with their mother's bacteria; this helps prevent allergic diseases.
  
• One major skin to skin benefits is for premature babies: “skin to skin" contact with preemies can reduce the need for extra oxygen intake.
  
• Babies who are kept skin on skin for an hour after birth are more likely to latch on without help. Read more about an amazing occurrence called the breast crawl. Watch the skin on skin video.
  
• Skin to skin and breastfeeding: Babies who are kept close to their mothers via breastfeeding in a sling or kangaroo care are more likely to breastfeed exclusively and for much longer.
  
• Babies who are close to their mothers in this way, usually have a more rhythmic breathing pattern.
  
• Babies who are kept close to their mothers with skin on skin breastfeeding, usually breastfeed more often and this promotes a good milk supply.
  
• Skin to skin bonding: The physical contact will help a mom produce more of the hormone Oxytocin, which will improve milk let down and bonding.
  
• Many mothers have reported a decrease in breast engorgement pain during the first few days when/if they incorporate lots of skin to skin contact and skin to skin breastfeeding.

Early skin to skin contact is so very important and the skin to skin benefits speak for themselves, the importance of skin to skin contact goes far beyond just successful breastfeeding, but has proven itself as a way of calming and medicating babies, especially those who are sick and/or premature.

Want to ask any questions on skin to skin and breastfeeding or have your own newborn skin to skin contact advice?