The benefits of skin-to-skin contact after birth

Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to bring many benefits for both mum and baby:

• Skin-to-skin contact and enjoying mum's very first cuddle strengthens the emotional bond between mum and baby.
• Your baby is kept warm, which prevents hypothermia and helps stabilise their heart rate, breathing and blood sugar.
• Close to your breast, your baby can sense your body scent and the smell of milk, which encourages them to breastfeed sooner. The earlier your baby feeds, the sooner they get the first drops of colostrum, which are richest in nutrients, and it also helps your milk come in quickly after birth.
• Skin-to-skin contact is also a chance for your baby to be exposed to beneficial microbes; it stimulates the development of your baby's immune system and prevents low blood sugar.
• Lying on your chest and being held, your baby's hands, skin, nose and mouth all feel and touch you, which is very good for your baby's brain development.
• Skin-to-skin contact improves the chances of survival for premature and low-birth-weight babies. It also stimulates your body to release oxytocin, helping you feel relaxed, recover faster after birth and lowering the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

References: hongngochospital.vn