Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby is recommended to be done after the baby is born or during the first breastfeeding session. This practice, also known as kangaroo care, provides many benefits for both the mother and the baby.

What happens during skin-to-skin contact?

Skin-to-skin contact that occurs when the mother holds her baby triggers instinctual behaviors for both. This process involves natural hormonal responses in the mother and the baby's instinct to seek the mother's breast.

When a mother holds her baby, the skin-to-skin touch triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother. Oxytocin has many effects, such as reducing bleeding, aiding uterine contractions, and warming the mother's body. The warmth from the mother's body can make the baby comfortable and help both the mother and baby recognize each other's scent.

Oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the "love hormone," responsible for strengthening the bond between mother and baby and enhancing feelings of warmth, affection, and intimacy between them.

Skin-to-skin contact can also stimulate the production of the hormone prolactin in the mother. Prolactin plays a crucial role in milk production, ensuring an adequate supply for the baby.

Benefits and importance of skin-to-skin

The process of skin-to-skin contact and the hormonal responses it triggers not only help build emotional and physical bonds between mother and baby but also have significant health benefits, including:

• Calming and relaxing both mother and baby
• Regulating the baby's heart rate and breathing
• Helping the baby better adapt to life outside the womb
• Stimulating the baby's digestion and interest in breastfeeding
• Regulating temperature and allowing the colonization of the baby's skin with the mother's "good" bacteria, providing protection against infections
• Stimulating the release of hormones that support breastfeeding and ensure smooth milk production

Skin-to-skin is also beneficial for newborns who need care in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), including:

• Helping to increase the baby's oxygen saturation
• Reducing cortisol levels, which cause stress, especially after painful procedures
• Encouraging pre-feeding behaviors
• Reducing hospital stay duration
• Increasing breast milk volume if the mother expresses milk after significant skin-to-skin contact; additionally, expressed milk will contain antibodies beneficial for the baby

Tips for skin-to-skin contact with newborns

Here are the steps that are usually taken by a nurse during skin-to-skin contact with newborns:

• Ensure the environment is comfortable, warm, and quiet. The baby can be placed on the mother’s or father’s chest
• Remove the baby’s clothes so their skin is exposed and ready for direct contact with the mother’s skin. Similarly, the mother’s top should be opened so her chest is bare and accessible to the baby
• Place the naked baby on the mother’s chest so the baby’s skin touches the mother’s skin; ensuring the position is safe and comfortable
• Cover the baby with a light blanket or cloth to keep them warm and comfortable. Check the baby’s breathing and ensure the baby can breathe easily
• Allow the baby to remain in skin-to-skin contact for at least an hour or longer. This gives the baby time to adjust to the outside environment and experience the various benefits of skin-to-skin contact
• During skin-to-skin contact, the mother can also breastfeed, especially if the baby shows signs of wanting to nurse. When the baby is placed on the mother’s chest, they will typically instinctively seek the nipple and begin the breastfeeding process
• If there are medical conditions that limit the mother’s ability to engage in skin-to-skin contact, consult with a midwife or doctor for guidance that meets your needs

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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