Benefits of Skin to Skin
How do I perform skin to skin?
Its as simple as it sounds. Simply, place your baby dressed only in a diaper on your bare chest.
The benefits of skin to skin seem almost endless, but here are some:
Stabilizes the baby’s body temperature, blood sugar, respiratory rate, heart rate and more
Helps with the initiation and maintenance (yes! I mean it helps your milk supply) of breastfeeding
Increases maternal/paternal and infant bonding
Decreases the risk of postpartum depression
Decreases infant crying
Helps the infants immune system
Fortunately, the benefits of skin to skin are so robust that the above list is no where near comprehensive of ALL of them. Some important thing to note:
Skin to skin can be with the infant and anyone (mom, dad, etc.)
It can *and should* continue once you’re home from the hospital
Snuggle that baby as much as you can because they don’t stay young forever!
