Skin-to-skin contact at birth: why it matters
Placing baby directly skin-to-skin with a parent in the first minutes of life brings well-documented benefits.
Skin-to-skin contact means placing the baby, naked or in just a diaper, directly on the parent's chest or belly, usually covered by a blanket, right after birth — whether after a vaginal delivery or, when mother and baby's condition allows, a cesarean.
This contact helps regulate the newborn's temperature, heart rate, and breathing, while also helping beneficial bacteria from the parent colonize the baby's skin. It also helps stabilize the baby's blood sugar levels.
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For breastfeeding, immediate skin-to-skin often makes the first latch easier, since the baby naturally roots toward the nipple in that setting. It also boosts the mother's oxytocin production, the hormone that supports both bonding and milk let-down.
When the medical condition of the baby or parent doesn't allow for immediate skin-to-skin — for example, if the baby needs urgent breathing support — it can usually be offered a little later, as soon as the situation allows, and the benefits remain significant even when delayed.
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This information is general and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional (doctor, midwife, nurse, pharmacist). Every situation is unique: always check with them before making a decision. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.
