After birth, skin-to-skin contact is one very simple step that every mother can take to help make sure that her baby gets everything he needs in those first few hours.
Being born is a tiring time for your baby, and we now know the best way to welcome a baby into the world is to hold him in skin-to-skin contact. Skin-to-skin contact between a mother and baby has a massive effect on how your baby adapts to his new world. No matter how you choose to feed your baby, spending some time in skin-to-skin contact is very important. Click here to see two mothers experience skin-to-skin contact after birth.
After delivery your baby will be gently dried and then placed on your chest, (Its fine to have a nappy on your baby, just in case!) and a warm blanket will be placed over you. You can then spend some time getting to know him.
Because this is such a special time the staff will not hurry you, it is exactly what your baby needs to calm him after his journey through labour and delivery. This means his heartbeat and breathing will be better controlled and getting used to life in his new world will be so much easier. If you or your baby is unwell and unable to have contact immediately after birth, skin-to-skin contact can start as soon as you are both well enough.
You can have skin-to-skin contact as often as you want with your baby, it’s a great way to calm your baby and let you both get to know each other, and the more time you spend in skin-to-skin contact the quicker this will happen.
It is likely that whilst you are holding your baby in skin contact he will start to show some signs of being ready to feed such as rooting and moving his hand towards his mouth. You may at this point feel that you would like to offer him a breastfeed, some women do have a strong feeling to do this even if they had planned to bottle feed and the staff will help you to do this if you choose.
However there will be no pressure on you to do this and if you decide that you want to bottle feed it can be lovely for you and your baby to offer the first bottle whilst you are both in skin-to-skin contact.
FAQs
Why would my baby choose skin to skin contact?
There is lots of evidence about the many benefits of skin- to skin contact. We know that babies who have spent an hour in skin contact are significantly less stressed after the birth experience - this means that their breathing and heart rate are more stable, they cry less, and when they start to feed, they digest their food better.
A mother’s chest area is significantly warmer than other parts of her body – ready to welcome her new baby and prevent him from getting cold. Your baby has been lovely and warm in your uterus – at around 37 degrees, whereas the labour room will be significantly cooler, and he is wet – its like getting out of the swimming baths, you need to get dry and warm quickly. Being close to you will help him to pick up some of the friendly bacteria from your skin and help protect him from catching infections now he is no longer protected in side you.
When else should I think about using skin-to-skin contact?
Skin contact will help in any situation where your baby needs help to calm down, so a hungry or fractious baby will benefit. It will also help to trigger feeding if your baby is slow to feed or sleepy. You can enjoy skin-to-skin contact at anytime with your baby and it is also a lovely way for Dad to feel close to baby. Many Dads speak of the special bond that forms when they hold their baby next to their skin in this way.
