All you’ll ever need to know about skin-to-skin with your newborn baby

Welcoming a newborn into the world is a precious and life-altering experience. Amidst the joy and wonder, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of the baby. One practice that has finally gained universal recognition for its numerous benefits is skin-to-skin contact. In this blog, we will explore why this simple act holds immense significance for both the newborn and the birthing person.

There are a number of benefits of skin-to-skin contact for the newly postpartum mother/birthing person including: helping the uterus contract and begin the involution back to its’ pre-pregnancy size, encourages production of oxytocin, calms and relaxes the mother and reduces stress hormones (extra important in many hospital environments), improves colostrum production, helps promote bonding and more! But….what else does skin-to-skin contact do for babies?

Bonding and Emotional Connection: Skin-to-skin contact, often referred to as kangaroo care, fosters a strong emotional bond between parents and their newborns. Direct skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin, the “love hormone,” promoting feelings of warmth, affection, and love. This bonding experience not only enhances the parents’ emotional connection with their baby but also helps the baby feel secure and loved, providing a foundation for healthy social and emotional development. Some may call this ‘the outer womb.’ As an aside here: There is also information that any lotions or perfumed anything that you or your baby has on their skin–will interrupt the bonding connection that takes place. Just say no to baby shampoo for your perineum when you push!!

Regulation of Body Temperature: Newborns are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature. Skin-to-skin contact helps regulate their body temperature more effectively than any external device can. The mother’s or father’s body warmth provides a cozy environment that helps the baby maintain a stable body temperature. This is especially important in the early hours and days after birth when the baby is adjusting to the outside world and their own temperature control mechanisms are still developing.

Promotion of Breastfeeding: Skin-to-skin contact is closely associated with successful breastfeeding. The close proximity to the mother’s breasts stimulates the baby’s natural feeding reflexes, increasing the likelihood of early breastfeeding initiation and duration. The physical and emotional closeness during skin-to-skin contact helps establish a strong nursing relationship, encourages the baby’s rooting and latching instincts, and boosts the mother’s milk production. Now, if you aren’t breastfeeding–NO PROBLEM! Skin-to-skin will still encourage this essential bond between parent and child.

Stress Reduction and Calming Effect: The transition from the womb to the outside world can be overwhelming for newborns, often leading to stress and crying. Skin-to-skin contact has a remarkable calming effect, reducing stress levels by lowering cortisol (the stress hormone) in both the baby and the parents. The baby’s heart rate stabilizes, their breathing becomes more regular, and they cry less. Similarly, parents experience reduced anxiety and stress, benefiting their overall well-being and creating a positive environment for nurturing the newborn.

Continue Skin-to-Skin Contact

Incorporating skin-to-skin contact into the early moments and days of a baby’s life–even well after you’ve left the hospital, can have a profound and lasting impact. It not only creates a foundation for a strong emotional bond but also provides physiological benefits that contribute to the overall well-being and development of the newborn. Whether it’s the mother or father, the warmth and closeness offered through skin-to-skin contact create a nurturing environment that helps the baby thrive.

Benefits–a Summary:

The big benefits of skin-to-skin contact include:

 · Regulating body temperature

· Stabilizing baby’s heart rate

· Stabilizing baby’s breathing 

· Better bonding with parent

· Increased breastfeeding success (if that’s important to you)

· Increased weight gain

· Increased brain growth 

· Lower risk of infection

· Lower stress hormone levels (cortisol)

· Less crying

· Stabilizing baby’s blood sugar

In conclusion, skin-to-skin contact is not just a fleeting moment; it is an investment in the well-being of the newborn and the emotional connection between parent and child. By embracing this practice, parents provide their baby with a solid foundation for a healthy start in life, fostering love, warmth, and a sense of security that will resonate throughout their journey together.

Find your ‘Doula Near Me‘ to help take care of YOU in birth and beyond!