Skin to Skin

Something so simple but the benefits are many.

• Babies temperature remains more stable
• Babies heartrate and breathing remains more stable
• Babies blood sugar is elevated (this is good)
• Babies are more likely to latch to the breast
• Babies are less likely to cry

How do you do it? Simply, dry the baby off after delivery and as long as they are healthy - put them right up on your chest. Remove your top and bra, place the baby on your chest and then put a blanket atop you.

Often, you will feel hot after a few minutes of this kangaroo care. Why? Your body temperature will naturally rise to help keep the baby warm. Pretty amazing process if you ask me.

If you have a c-section, you may have to wait until you are in the recovery room to do this.

Many times, with hospital based deliveries, the nurses "check" the baby out and wrap them up in several blankets before handing them back to you. My suggestion? UNWRAP those precious babies and put them right on your skin!

Word of caution. Skin 2 skin only works skin ON skin. So, if you unwrap the baby, he/she must be against your skin or they will get cold very quickly. And when babies get cold, it can be a spiral effect on there blood sugars, heart rate and more. It is very important that they either be on your skin (or daddy's or grandmas or whomever) or wrapped up.

Back from Skin to Skin to First 2 weeks

Back from Skin to Skin to askthelactationconsultant.com