The Benefits of Early Skin to Skin Contact with Babies and Parents

Picture this: how do you envision welcoming your baby immediately following birth? Did you know it’s commonly accepted and encouraged, that as long as baby is healthy, he or she should go directly to mom’s chest? That’s right!

Within the first hour of a baby’s birth, skin-to-skin contact should be initiated between mom and baby if possible. There are many benefits to both mom and baby If mom isn’t able to do skin-to-skin following the birth, there’s still benefit for a non-birthing parent to cuddle up with the baby.

Here are some benefits of skin-to-skin contact for both mom and baby following the birth:  

• May promote an increase in the mother’s oxytocin levels and prolactin levels. These hormones increase and promote breastfeeding and bonding, and can possibly prevent postpartum hemorrhage in the mother.
• Temperature regulation for the baby, by being on the mom’s chest. The mother’s temperature adjusts to stabilize the baby.  Our bodies are so smart!
• Reduces newborn stress and stress hormones which helps to optimize the newborn’s transition and adjustment to live outside the womb. This helps stabilize the baby’s energy consumption, glucose levels, respiration, crying, and initiating breastfeeding.
• Promotes breastfeeding through signaling lactation hormones.
• In the early weeks of a baby’s life, skin-to-skin contact has ongoing benefits for maternal mental health by raising oxytocin and prolactin levels- both hormones are stress-reducing. Also, who doesn’t love baby cuddles?

There may be an instance where it’s not possible for mom and baby to have immediate skin-to-skin within the first hour of birth, especially in the instance of a medical condition or complication. It’s still possible to experience the benefits of skin-to-skin contact when mom and baby are brought together. Initiating breastfeeding releases hormones such as oxytocin, prolactin, and beta-endorphins. These are all soothing to the mother and can reduce stress in both mom and baby.

Resource: Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care (2015) by Dr. Sarah J. Buckley 

More resources to help you prepare for birth:

Doula tips for labor

Doula vs. Midwife

Make Your Baby Registry A Mom Registry, Too

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