• Blogs
  • Skin-to-skin contact with your bub goes beyond bonding

Skin-to-skin contact with your bub goes beyond bonding

06 April 2018

Blog
Maternity
Having skin-to-skin time with your baby as soon and as often as possible following birth can do wonders. Our Midwife Emma Cook explains the benefits.

In the womb, your baby has a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients while growing in a temperature-controlled environment where they feel safe and secure.

At birth, apart from finding itself with much more space, your baby is suddenly required to manage all of these things on their own.

This can be daunting. But, by having immediate skin-to-skin contact with you, your bub is able to hear the familiar sound of your heartbeat and know your scent.

This is the beginning of the bonding process and dad can join in too.

Having skin-to-skin contact, gives your baby the chance to:

  • learn to regulate its own heartbeat, breathing and temperature
  • develop beneficial skin bacteria. 

It is very important that during skin-to-skin time immediately after birth parents, with support from midwives, are not distracted and watch newborns closely.

The closeness helps with lactation and breastfeeding too. It can help you produce the hormone needed to encourage your milk to come in.

Then, after being on your chest for a while, the baby will be able to find the nipple and begin to feed.

Sometimes, this can occur as early as within an hour after birth.

All mums and babies are different though. So if your baby does not get it straight away, our midwives who are all trained in breastfeeding will be available to offer support.

More breastfeeding information

Breastfeeding and emotional wellbeing

Our top breastfeeding tips

Our lactation consultant answers new mums' number 1 question

The upside of breastfeeding for mums

10 benefits of breastfeeding your baby

St John of God Health Care Emma Cook
Emma Cook - Director of Nursing

Emma Cook has almost 20 years’ experience in a variety of clinical and nursing executive roles at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital.

Emma is a registered nurse and midwife and holds a Bachelor of Science (nursing) and Diploma in Midwifery as well a Masters in Health Care Services and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture.