The Benefits of Skin to Skin

Article by Janferie Dewar, Baby and Beyond Sleep Consultant, Registered Nurse, Breastfeeding Educator

BABY, BONDING, BREASTFEEDING

The term Skin to Skin or Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) originated in Colombia, South America, in the late 1970’s with Pediatrician Edgar Rey. He introduced this method of caring for premature babies in the neo natal unit for mothers and babies from the city’s lowest socio-economic areas. Now used around the world, skin to skin contact between mother and newborn is now encouraged within the first hour after birth and in the days and months that follow.

Since it’s humble beginnings skin to skin has been closely studied and been shown to have numerous benefits to premature babies (and all babies) not only were these babies surviving, but breastfeeding rates were up, hospital stays were shorter, and infection was down. These findings were first published in the Pediatrics Journal in 1997.

Benefits for mum – this close bonding time with your new baby releases the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin. This wonderful hormone helps you feel calm, and responsive to baby, and helps with breastfeeding as it causes let down of milk.

Benefits for baby – baby is calmer during skin to skin, there is reduced crying and the stress hormone cortisol. Nestled with mum their heart rate, temperature, oxygen levels and blood sugars stabilize. This all leads to an environment where baby is able to latch onto the breast and feed for longer and helps breastfeeding establish and maintain. Skin contact is a wonderful way to support your baby through the transition from their stable in utero environment inside mum to the outside world filled with many different smells, sensations and noises.

SAFE SKIN-TO-SKIN

When you’re having skin-to-skin time, you always want to make sure baby can breathe. You don’t want baby’s neck bent too far forward, and baby’s nose and mouth should always be uncovered. Remember to:

Save skin-to-skin for those times you won’t fall asleep. If you fall asleep, you can easily block baby’s airway.
Keep baby in an upright position (his head higher than his feet).
Adults who hold baby should sit semi-upright with a pillow behind their back.
Make sure baby’s head is turned to the side with his nose up in a sniffing position so he can breathe easily
Place blankets over baby’s back to keep everyone warm and cosy. Don’t let the blankets cover baby’s nose or mouth.

FEEDING PROBLEMS?

The Answer Always Begins With Skin-to-Skin

Whatever your baby’s age go back to the basics with lots of skin to skin time if you are having some breast-feeding problems or feeding in general, seek help from a trusted expert.

At Baby and Beyond we have experienced consultants who can support you with establishing skin to skin time with your baby and on your feeding journey. This article talks about breastfeeding in general, however we believe feed is best.