7 Skin to Skin Benefits You Need to Know

You’ve just had your baby after 9 long months of waiting maybe not so patiently (if you’re me!). You’ve finally got your baby and they lay him/her on your chest and ask if you want help getting baby skin to skin with you. Why would you put your baby skin to skin? What are the skin to skin benefits for mom and baby?

It can be very confusing as a first-time mom to know what to do and what to fight for. Skin to skin after-birth bonding time is so important! Skin to skin at any time is incredibly beneficial to you and your baby. I’m going to tell you the benefits of skin to skin and why you should fight for it after birth. And also why you should continue doing it once you get home.

Who I Am

I’m Courtney, a mom of 3 and a postpartum (mother-baby) nurse! I often go to the delivery room at 1 hour of life to assess newborn babies and assist in starting the first breastfeeding session if it has not been initiated already. I’m here to educate you on all things motherhood, pregnancy, and postpartum.

DISCLAIMER: this blog post is not to be taken as medical advice. This blog is educational, any medical questions should be discussed with your doctor.

What is Skin to Skin?

Skin to skin is when your baby is placed with only a diaper on your bare chest. It is often referred to as kangaroo care in the hospital. Skin to skin contact can be done by mom or dad to help with bonding with your baby. If you don’t have a newborn anymore and you’re wondering “What age should you stop skin to skin with baby?” I want you to know skin to skin is a great practice not only right after birth during the golden hour but any time throughout the first year. There is no specific age to stop skin to skin, it can still have great benefits throughout the first year of your baby’s life.

How to do Skin to Skin?

Skin to skin can be done in many different ways. I recommend wearing a button-down shirt so you can unbutton your shirt and place the baby directly on your chest. When you’re in the hospital in your gown you can unbutton one of the arm holes and slip baby down into your gown. 

One way to do skin to skin is to place the baby stomach to stomach with you. Always make sure your baby’s airway is not blocked. Turn their head to the side where their nose and mouth are not pressed right up against your chest. Place a blanket over the baby’s back. Babies can’t regulate their temperature like adults, so you don’t want them to get too cold. 

Another way to do skin to skin is in the cradle hold. If you place baby skin to skin when nursing you can place a blanket over the baby and leave baby skin to skin that way. Make sure when you’re done nursing the baby’s face is not pressed against your breast, always have their mouth and nose turned out. These are my two favorite skin to skin positions with newborns to do.

Skin to Skin Benefits for Mom

Skin to skin has many benefits for both mom and baby. Here are some skin to skin benefits for moms and why it should be done.

Helps Increase Milk Supply

Does skin to skin increase milk supply?

Skin to skin contact is important for mothers who choose to breastfeed.  By doing skin to skin it can help increase milk supply by stimulating the release of prolactin and oxytocin. Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for the milk ejection reflex. 

You can perform skin to skin while breastfeeding or you can lay your baby on your chest before or after a feeding. If you place your baby skin to skin before feeding your baby may seek out your breasts. They smell you and your milk. If your baby is nursing more often that is a signal to your body to make more milk. Breast milk is made on a supply-and-demand basis. The more milk removed the more milk your body will make. And when your baby is skin to skin with you and your breasts are available they are more likely to nurse more frequently.

To see common breastfeeding positions you can do while doing skin to skin check out this blog post 8 Breastfeeding Positions All New Moms Should Know.

Reduces Risk of Postpartum Depression

In a study published in 2020, a group of moms who did skin to skin contact during the first month of their baby’s life had lower depression risk scores than those that did not. This shows that not only is skin to skin contact important in the first hour after birth but also throughout the newborn’s first month of life (and beyond). Oxytocin is released during skin to skin contact and can help reduce stress.

To read the study I found this information click here.

Helps You to Bond With Your Baby

The hormones released during skin to skin time with your baby can help you emotionally bond with them. Hormones such as oxytocin, prolactin, and endorphins can cause you to have feelings of love and protection. The hormones also reduce stress. Some women report not feeling a connection with their baby right away, if that’s you try doing skin to skin to promote bonding with your baby.

Skin to skin contact with dad can also help the baby bond with dad. Often dads can feel like they aren’t as close with the baby or aren’t bonding well. This can occur in the beginning when the baby is so dependent on the mom. But allowing dad to be skin to skin with the baby will help him feel closer to the baby and help the baby get to know their dad.

Skin to Skin Contact Benefits for Baby

Babies go through a massive change when they’re born. They go from being in utero where they receive all their nutrients from the umbilical cord and are warm and cozy. Babies constantly hear their mom’s heartbeat while in the womb. Now they’re born in a cold, bright, loud world. They’re feeling hunger, the discomfort of having a dirty diaper, cold, and not hearing mom’s heartbeat constantly anymore. Skin to skin is so beneficial to babies as they transition to life outside the womb. Not only is it comforting, but helps them stabilize. Here are skin to skin benefits for the baby.

Helps Regulate Baby’s Vital Signs

Birth can be a traumatic experience for a baby and now their whole world has changed. They’re having to breathe on their own and keep their body temperature regulated. Baby’s heart is having to begin pumping to provide oxygenated blood to the body and organs. When a baby is separated from their mom at birth they can begin to panic which increases their heart rate and respirations. Doing skin to skin can help regulate all of the baby’s vital signs and can help calm the baby down. It is crucial to do this right after birth as long as mom and baby are stable to help the baby transition to life outside of the uterus.

Being skin to skin can also help regulate your baby’s blood sugar. I always recommend to my patients if they have a baby who is on the blood sugar protocol to do skin to skin before having a blood sugar check. That will help get the baby in the mood to begin nursing as well.

Helps to Reduce the Baby’s Stress and Pain

The release of oxytocin and the reduction of cortisol during skin to skin contact can help newborns have a decrease in their stress. It has also been shown that a baby who was skin to skin reacts less to painful procedures such as heel sticks to draw blood. I will say I have seen in my clinical practice (anecdotally) that when an infant is skin to skin with their mom they react less to heel sticks for blood draws and temperature checks. I’ve even had some infants not cry at all when getting a heel stick since they were skin to skin with their mother or father. If allowed by your hospital doing skin to skin during a painful procedure such as a heel stick can be beneficial to your baby.

Can Help Boost Immunity

When an infant is born they don’t have a very strong immune system. This can cause babies to be at risk of contracting illnesses or infections. Doing skin to skin with their parents can help infants to obtain a higher level of immunity to help protect from illnesses and diseases. While skin to skin with the mom or dad can help good bacteria transfer to baby’s skin from the parent. As good bacteria grows it can help the baby have some protection against infection.

Reduces Infant Crying

As stated before, birth can be traumatizing and terrifying for infants. Everything is different for them now. Placing the baby skin to skin with mom is a perfect way to help them feel more normal and at home. Your infant has heard your heart beating constantly since his/her hearing was developed. Placing the baby directly on your skin to hear your heartbeat can help remind them of the womb. Placing baby skin to skin can help calm a baby at birth and beyond. When you have an infant that’s upset and crying at 6 months old, trying skin to skin can help benefit them.

Skin to Skin Benefits with Dad

Does the baby get the same benefits of skin to skin if dad does it instead of mom? Yes!! Not only does the baby have the same benefits but the dad gets to bond with the baby. Mom has spent 9 months carrying the baby and feeling the baby move and hiccup. Dad has not had that luxury, so doing skin to skin can help dad bond with the baby and form a connection. 

Dads should do skin to skin when able to. I always recommend if for some reason mom can’t do skin to skin after birth due to a complication or if she’s unstable have dad do skin to skin. Skin to skin after birth even with dad is so important to help baby transition to the world. For my births, I did the first hour “golden hour” of skin to skin and then allowed my husband to do skin to skin after. That’s a great option as well!

Should Babies Be Cleaned Before Skin to Skin?

Babies don’t need to be cleaned/bathed before the first skin to skin contact. Your baby will be born with what is called vernix on their body. Vernix is a cheesy, white substance that is there to protect your baby while they are in the womb. When born the vernix will be on their skin still. It is beneficial to let the vernix soak into the skin instead of bathing the baby right away. Baby will have amniotic fluid and maybe blood on them after birth, the labor and delivery nurses will dry the baby with a towel or blanket. This is not to clean the baby but to help make sure the baby’s temperature stays stable after birth and that they aren’t wet or cold.

Can You do Skin to Skin Right After a C-Section?

Yes! Absolutely. As long as mom and baby are both stable you can do skin to skin right after a c-section while still in the operating room. If you have a scheduled c-section you can always talk to your doctor about your desire to do skin to skin while in the OR. Let your nurse know when you get to the hospital as well. There are absolutely ways to allow you to do skin to skin in the OR as well as breastfeed if you would like to do that. 

If you are having a scheduled c-section it could be a good idea to create a birth plan for your c-section. You can have listed that you want to do skin to skin and assistance breastfeeding right after birth, even in the OR. You’ll want to remember that a birth plan does not mean that’s how it will happen and you should still be open-minded. Skin to skin in the OR is only possible as long as both the mom and baby are stable with no complications.

If you are unstable or under general anesthesia your partner can do skin to skin in the OR instead. Typically they will be in a bunny suit so they can request the nurse to help them get the baby placed skin to skin. Just because you had a c-section does not make skin to skin any less beneficial to you or your baby.

At What Age Should You Stop Doing Skin to Skin With Your Baby?

There is no specific age that skin to skin is no longer beneficial for mom or baby. The answer to this question is variable and up to both the parent and child. You can do skin to skin as long as you’d like! Skin to skin benefits for older babies are still there. 

When your baby is teething, fussy, hurt, sick, or needing extra comfort skin to skin contact is a wonderful way to help soothe your baby. If your milk supply dips and your baby is 6 months old then doing lots of skin to skin time is a great way to help increase your milk supply. If you aren’t sure when to do skin to skin with an older baby you can do skin to skin during a contact nap. Holding your baby during a nap can be very comforting for them. Or you can take a bath together and do skin to skin that way!

Skin to Skin Benefits

Skin to skin contact can offer a range of benefits to both mom and baby. Dads can even benefit from skin to skin with babies because it can help them bond. This is a great way to comfort your baby no matter their age and you can do it throughout your baby’s first year. 

Always remember skin to skin right after birth for at least an hour is important as long as the mom and the baby are both stable. As long as your baby and you are stable it’s okay to request an hour of skin to skin and breastfeeding. The nurses can assess your baby’s vitals while they are on your chest and can do your fundal rubs while you’re practicing skin to skin. 

 If you aren’t able to do skin to skin right after birth due to a complication, that’s okay! Make sure to let the nurses know you want dad to do skin to skin if you can’t. As soon as you’re able to you can do skin to skin with your baby.

If you love this blog post be sure to share with your friends and family! At what age did you stop skin to skin with your baby?

If you are currently pregnant check out these related blog posts:

Breastfeeding Essentials for New Moms That You Can’t Live Without

The Ultimate Labor and Delivery Hospital Bag Checklist

Postpartum Essentials You’ll Regret Not Having for Mom and Baby