Skin to skin contact

Skin to skin contact involves positioning your baby and be placing them upright on your bare chest with a blanket along your baby’s back to create a little pouch similar to that of a kangaroo. Gently stroke your baby and caress him or her, you can even place the baby’s head in your hand. Your baby will be surrounded by a comfortable atmosphere and kept warm. The peacefulness should promote feelings of happiness, joy and a sense of confidence in caring for your baby. You may wish to keep a nappy on your baby during skin to skin contact!

The benefits of skin to skin contact for baby:

• Your baby will become familiar with who you are and will easily recognize you.
• Provides your baby with a sense of security and feeling of belonging whilst putting them at ease.
• Research has shown that skin to skin contact can provide long term health benefits to your baby in the areas of physical, emotional and mental health.
• Skin to skin contact encourages successful feeding.
• Promotes growth and weight gain.
• Improves breathing and oxygen intake.
• Improves sleeping patterns

The benefits of skin to skin contact for you:

• Builds a strong relationship between you and your baby from early days, your baby will be more familiar making you bond closer.
• Helps you establish a sense of control in the provision of care for the newborn, making it easier to cope with fatherhood.
• Skin to skin contact improves your paternal behaviour.

This article was written by Debbie McVeigh