The Power of Skin-to-Skin: A Simple Practice with Big Benefits
From the moment a baby is born, they are biologically wired to connect. One of the most powerful and immediate ways to support this connection is through skin-to-skin contact, sometimes called "kangaroo care." It’s a simple practice: placing an undressed baby on a bare chest. But its impact on both baby and parent can be profound, offering emotional, physical, and long-term health benefits.
No matter the type of birth you’re planning, skin-to-skin can be an incredible part of your early bonding experience. Let’s explore why.
Benefits for Baby
Skin-to-skin helps newborns adjust gently from womb to world. Babies thrive on touch and familiarity, like that of your warmth, your smell, and your heartbeat.
Some of the benefits for baby include:
Regulated body temperature: Your chest helps keep your baby warmer than an incubator in many cases
Stable heart rate and breathing: Skin-to-skin helps regulate their systems, keeping them calmer and more steady.
Balanced blood sugar levels: Contact helps minimize stress, which in turn supports blood sugar stabilization.
Boosted immunity: Early skin-to-skin supports gut colonization with healthy bacteria and helps initiate breastfeeding, which provides immune protection.
Less crying: Being on your chest soothes babies, lowering cortisol (stress hormone) and increasing oxytocin (the love hormone).
Enhanced brain development: Calmer, more connected babies can better focus energy on growing and learning.
Improved breastfeeding outcomes: Babies held skin-to-skin after birth are more likely to latch effectively and feed well.
Benefits for Birth Mom
Skin-to-skin isn’t just great for the baby, it deeply benefits you, too. Whether you birthed vaginally or by cesarean, this contact can support your physical recovery and emotional well-being.
Skin-to-skin can help you:
Produce more oxytocin: This hormone helps your uterus contract (important for postpartum healing), reduces stress, and enhances bonding.
Improve milk production: Frequent skin-to-skin can boost milk supply and help initiate breastfeeding successfully.
Feel more confident: Connecting with your baby this way can build parental confidence and decrease anxiety.
Reduce postpartum bleeding: Oxytocin from skin-to-skin helps the uterus clamp down and reduce excessive bleeding.
Combat postpartum mood challenges: Skin-to-skin increases the release of feel-good hormones, supporting emotional well-being.
When Can You Do Skin-to-Skin?
The beauty of skin-to-skin is that it can be done immediately after birth and well into the newborn months (and even beyond). It’s never too late to start.
Key times to practice skin-to-skin:
Immediately after birth (the “golden hour”): As soon as baby is born and breathing well, place them on your chest.
After cesarean births: If medically stable, your care team can support skin-to-skin in the operating room or recovery room.
Before or after feeding sessions: Great for encouraging hunger cues and bonding time.
During fussy moments: Skin-to-skin can help soothe a crying baby.
During postpartum recovery: Whenever you're resting, lounging, or feeding, skin-to-skin is welcome.
Even 10–15 minutes of skin-to-skin can have benefits, and doing it frequently throughout the day is welcome.
How to Do Skin-to-Skin
It doesn’t need to be fancy. Here’s how to keep it simple and comfortable:
Find a quiet, safe space: Sit or lie back comfortably.
Undress your baby: Leave only the diaper on.
Expose your chest: Remove your shirt and bra.
Place baby tummy-down on your chest: Their head should be turned to the side, and their nose and mouth should be visible and unobstructed.
Cover with a blanket: Drape a warm blanket over both of you to maintain warmth.
Relax and enjoy: This is your time to bond, no rush, no pressure.
Can Other People Do Skin-to-Skin?
Absolutely. Skin-to-skin isn't only for the birthing parent. Partners, grandparents, and other caregivers can—and should—share in this bonding time. It’s an incredible way for everyone to build connection and support baby’s development.
Skin-to-skin is great for:
Partners: Helps them bond, regulate baby’s temperature, and feel more involved in the early days.
Grandparents or siblings: With supervision and comfort, this can be a special bonding experience.
Right to the point…
Skin-to-skin is one of the most loving, natural, and effective ways to bond with your baby and support their transition into the world. It costs nothing, takes little effort, and offers benefits that can last a lifetime.
Whether it's those first golden hours after birth or cozy moments months down the road, take every opportunity to hold your baby close, heart to heart. The power of your touch is real, and your baby feels it deeply.
