Recent studies support what mother’s have known instinctively for generations. Mothers and babies belong together from the moment of birth. Skin to skin contact between mothers and babies immediately after delivery has many benefits for the new family.
Skin to skin contact involves drying the infant and placing him/her immediately from the womb to the bare skin of the mother’s abdomen, then placing a warmed blanket over the two of them. According to mammalian neuroscience, the intimate stimuli inherent in this kind of contact evokes neuro-behaviors ensuring fulfillment of basic biological needs and may program future behavior. Thirty studies involving 1925 participants found the following positive effects to keeping mothers and babies skin to skin immediately after birth.
Benefits to Baby:
· Stabilization of the baby’s heart rate with a decrease in bradycardia episodes
· Improved regular breathing patterns and a decrease in apnea episodes
· Improved oxygen saturation rates
· Improved temperature regulation
· Increased restful and deeper sleep
· Increase in weight gain
· Shorter hospital stays
Benefits to Parents:
· Improved bonding supports closeness to baby
· Increase in breast milk supply
· More successful breastfeeding episodes
· Increased confidence in the ability to care for the baby
Skin to skin contact involves drying the infant and placing him/her immediately from the womb to the bare skin of the mother’s abdomen, then placing a warmed blanket over the two of them. According to mammalian neuroscience, the intimate stimuli inherent in this kind of contact evokes neuro-behaviors ensuring fulfillment of basic biological needs and may program future behavior. Thirty studies involving 1925 participants found the following positive effects to keeping mothers and babies skin to skin immediately after birth.
Benefits to Baby:
· Stabilization of the baby’s heart rate with a decrease in bradycardia episodes
· Improved regular breathing patterns and a decrease in apnea episodes
· Improved oxygen saturation rates
· Improved temperature regulation
· Increased restful and deeper sleep
· Increase in weight gain
· Shorter hospital stays
Benefits to Parents:
· Improved bonding supports closeness to baby
· Increase in breast milk supply
· More successful breastfeeding episodes
· Increased confidence in the ability to care for the baby
Gloria Glidewell, CNM, MS
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