B4 you ask how much your baby weighs make sure you get skin to skin with them first. Placing the baby directly onto your abdomen and up in between your breasts is the best place to be. After labour and delivery and all the drama that goes with that process where would you like to be, over in a warmer with bright lights and strangers touching you or close to the person who has been carrying you around for the past nine months. The familiar smells and comforting heartbeat, the gentle voices and stroking from your parents. If the baby could choose surely that is where they would want to be.
Most of the initial assessments can be done right there and the only reason they would have to be taken away is if there were any issues with their breathing.
There is so much more to breastfeeding than the transfer of milk to baby and one of the first steps is initial skin to skin contact. After delivery a surge of the hormone oxytocin is released, creating the bonding process and these levels are elevated at 15, 30 and 45 minutes after delivery. Oxytocin has aptly been called the cuddle hormone and helps both Mom and baby relax. Skin to skin helps to regulate temperature, breathing and heart rate and The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends first contact should be made as soon as possible after birth and if not immediately then at least within the first hour.
Keeping the baby skin to skin establishes early sucking and breastfeeding and the baby is right there giving you cues and signals on what they want to do. So keep your baby close and get breastfeeding off to a great start. That's what skin to skin is all about.
