Holding your baby skin-to-skin
As soon as possible after birth, hold your baby against you skin-to-skin.
Skin-to-skin contact:
- Helps your baby adjust to life outside the womb.
- Helps your baby breathe normally after birth.
- Keeps your baby warm.
- Helps to soothe, comfort and calm your baby, with the sound of your breathing and heartbeat, and the warmth and smell of your skin.
- Helps you and your baby relax.
- Helps you and your baby get to know each other.
- Helps mom make breast milk by encouraging baby to feed often and well.
- Holding your baby skin-to-skin when they have painful procedure such as blood tests and vaccinations is comforting to your baby.
This is something mom and partner can both enjoy doing with your baby.
To hold your baby skin-to-skin, your baby only needs to wear a diaper and is held in an upright position on your chest. Make sure your baby’s head is turned to allow them to breathe easily. You can place a light blanket on your baby’s back.
Skin-to-skin with premature babies is called Kangaroo Care.
It’s important to know that all babies can benefit from this simple technique, even older babies will enjoy skin-to-skin.
