Skin to skin contact between a mother and her newborn is more than just a sweet moment. It plays an important role in supporting your baby’s health and development.
Why Skin to Skin Matters
Right after birth, placing your baby directly on your chest helps regulate their temperature, heart rate, and breathing. This also supports stable blood sugar levels. While your baby may cry at first, this is known as a birth cry. It helps clear the lungs and signals the start of breathing on their own.
Close contact encourages emotional bonding and helps your baby absorb healthy bacteria from your skin. These bacteria form a natural shield against infections. Because of this, many experts recommend delaying your baby’s first bath for at least 24 hours, or even a few days. The white layer on your baby’s skin, called vernix, is a natural moisturiser that will slowly be absorbed.
Skin to skin also helps release oxytocin and prolactin in the mother. These hormones support breastfeeding and build connection. Being close also encourages your baby’s early feeding cues and stimulates the digestive system.
Support for Preterm Babies
Preterm babies benefit greatly from skin to skin contact, often called kangaroo care. It helps them stay warm, reduce infection risk, and grow steadily. These babies are more likely to leave the hospital earlier when fed with expressed breastmilk. Your healthcare team will guide you on when you can begin holding your baby this way.
How to Do Skin to Skin
After drying, your baby is placed naked on your chest or abdomen. You can also speak to your medical team about delaying cord clamping, which has added benefits for your baby.
When left undisturbed in skin to skin contact, your baby will likely follow these natural steps:
- Cry briefly at birth
- Rest quietly to recover
- Begin to wake and show early feeding cues
- Start moving gently or even crawl toward the breast
- Take a break to rest again
- Begin licking, nuzzling, and eventually self-attach to feed
This may take around an hour. It is best not to interrupt the process with routine checks like weighing. Waiting until after the first feed supports better feeding at the next session too.
If Skin to Skin Can’t Start Right Away
Sometimes skin to skin cannot begin immediately. This may happen if your baby is born early, needs medical care, or if you are too tired or recovering from birth. Even so, skin to skin might still be possible later. Your healthcare provider will guide you on what is best for you and your baby.
Breastfeeding support groups can also help you learn more and feel more confident. No parent does everything perfectly, but you will always do your best for your baby.
Enjoy the first cuddle. It means more than you know.
