Skin-to-Skin: The Basics

 
Mom is holding her naked newborn to her bare chest for skin-to-skin time.

What is skin-to-skin?

Skin-to-skin is also called “kangaroo care.” It is the time when your baby is placed bare skin (except for a diaper) on your bare chest or your partner’s bare chest. 

Sharing skin-to-skin time in the first hour after your baby is born is so important! Unless medically necessary skin-to-skin time should not be interrupted. Instead, find a comfortable position and lie back.

Did You Know?

When you hold your baby skin-to-skin, your body will increase or decrease its temperature a few degrees in either direction based on what your baby needs.

Why is skin-to-skin time so important?  

The most common benefits of early skin-to-skin are listed below. These benefits continue when you hold your baby skin-to-skin anytime during the first weeks of their life.

Skin-to-skin...

Skin-to-skin calms you and your baby. It releases a stress-relieving hormone that helps you heal.
Skin-to-skin stabilizes your baby's heart rate, temperature, breathing, and blood sugar
Skin-to-skin allows for quality bonding.
Skin-to-skin helps your baby get used to life outside your womb. This helps him be ready to feed and grow.
Skin-to-skin builds your baby's immune system. This helps protect him from illness and infection.
Skin-to-skin stimulates your baby's brain through a variety of senses: smell, touch, movement, and sound.
Skin-to-skin helps with your breast milk production and encourages your baby's natural instinct to breastfeed.
Skin-to-skin lowers your risk of postpartum depression and anxiety.

Did You Know?

Your baby has only known life inside your body. Birth will be stressful for them! Your baby will recognize your heartbeat when their are placed on your chest during skin-to-skin time. This familiar heartbeat will help them feel relaxed.