The Magic Touch: Skin to Skin

Skin to skin is so valuable to support a healthy start to breastfeeding, and to stabilize mom and baby post-birth.

Skin to Skin | The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour refers to the first hour immediately following delivery of the newborn. Any hospital with the Baby Friendly designation will actively support skin to skin and minimize interruptions in the first hour of life, unless immediate medical intervention is needed. During this hour, the newborn will have their first feeding. There are many benefits to immediate skin to skin, including:

• Stabilizes blood glucose levels in the newborn
  • By keeping the baby close and feeding by feeding cues, the newborn is less likely to need intervention for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• Stabilizes the newborn's body temperature
  • Newborns who go skin to skin are less likely to need interventions for temperature control. Mom’s body, including each of her breasts, warm to the temperature that her baby needs to be.
• Stabilizes the newborn's heart rate and breathing rate
  • This decreases the risk of medical intervention.
• Reduces the mother's risk for increased blood loss or postpartum hemorrhage
  • When the newborn is skin to skin post-delivery, the mother’s oxytocin levels spike. Oxytocin is critical to minimize blood loss in mom, and facilitates the contractions of the uterus and the delivery of the placenta. 
• Increases bonding between the mother and newborn
  • The mother's levels of oxytocin surge with her newborn close. Oxytocin is one of the "happy hormones," which can reduce anxious or sad feeling and promote maternal attachment. With the infant close to mom during the transition to the outside world, they can begin to establish trust and feelings of safety with the mother.
• Reduces the risk of jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia)
  • By initiating breastfeeding early, and promoting the passage of meconium (baby's first poop), the levels of bilirubin (which can cause jaundice) decrease. The more often the newborn eats, the more they poop, thereby expelling the bilirubin.
• Promotes early initiation of breastfeeding
  • Having Baby skin to skin and initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of life is a huge indicator of if breastfeeding will continue.
• Decreased crying in the newborn
  • Mom is close, and baby's needs are met!

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If your baby has a stay in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), you can participate in Kangaroo Care (skin to skin) once your baby has stabilized. Often, NICU's have lactation consultants available to support families in the NICU in their breastfeeding journey.

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Skin to Skin | Beyond the Golden Hour

Skin to skin has many benefits beyond the immediate post-delivery period. All the same benefits of doing skin to skin during the Golden Hour still apply as the newborn grows.

Partners can also engage in skin to skin to promote bonding with the infant. This is a unique time to slow down and be present with your new child.

Being skin to skin with your baby can also be a powerful reset button. One of the biggest nuggets of wisdom that I give to mother's beginning their breastfeeding journey is to not make the breast a battlefield. If you or your baby are too frustrated to have a successful feeding, pause, have a few minutes of skin to skin, then try again.

Engaging in daily skin to skin -even just ten minutes a day- has been shown to decrease the likelihood of postpartum depression, by promoting healthy bonding and positive interactions between the mother and infant.

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Perinatal Mood Disorders can affect anyone. If you are experiencing thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, get help right away by calling 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

Resources

Badr, H. A., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2017). Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 4(2), 179–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2017.01.001.

Kirca, N., & Adibelli, D. (2021). Effects of mother–infant skin‐to‐skin contact on postpartum depression: A systematic review. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 57(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12727.

Widström, A., Brimdyr, K., Svensson, K., Cadwell, K., & Nissen, E. (2019). Skin‐to‐skin contact the first hour after birth, underlying implications and clinical practice. Acta Paediatrica, 108(7), 1192–1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.14754.