Skin to Skin Contact
(U.S. Breastfeeding Committee)
That first hour after birth is a magical time. Mom and baby are getting to know each in a new way. They are giving breastfeeding a try. This helps mom eventually build up a good milk supply and it helps her uterus return to normal. Baby gets her first drops of colostrum and finds comfort at the breast.
Another part of the “golden hour” that is important and special is mom and baby sharing skin to skin contact. Although research supports skin to skin contact right after birth and continuing at least into the early weeks postpartum, some hospitals still routinely separate the mom baby dyad.
Just this month a review was published of several journal article databases (1). It looked at 69 studies that compared the effects of immediate and early skin to skin contact with other hospital practices. The review found that skin to skin contact probably increases exclusive breastfeeding rates through hospital discharge and up to one month after birth. It also probably increases infant axillary temperature and blood glucose levels. The researchers highly recommend skin to skin contact after birth - regardless of whether the birth was vaginal or via cesarean - and that more studies should be conducted on the topic. However, since the evidence for skin to skin contact is so overwhelming, studies that randomly choose some moms to participate in skin to skin contact with their babies and some to not may not be justifiable.
Written by Gina Peterson
Ask Dr Sears: Bonding with Baby
ABM Clinical Protocol #7: Model Maternity Policy Supportive of Breastfeeding
Baby Friendly USA: Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
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