Benefits of Keeping Parent and Baby Together Following Birth
/Kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin contact, is more than just the start of cultivating the bond between you and your baby. In this post, we list the health benefits of uninterrupted skin contact between baby and parent as well as tips to advocate for yourself on this healthy birth practice.
Healthy Birth Practice #6: Keep Parent and Baby Together
According to Lamaze International, “mothers and babies have a physiologic need to be together during the moments, hours, and days following birth, and this time together significantly improves maternal and newborn outcomes.” The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that all healthy babies and mothers, regardless of feeding preference and method of birth, have uninterrupted skin-to- skin care beginning immediately after birth for at least an hour.
As midwife Ina May Gaskin says, you’re entitled to "keep your prize,” and during those first moments after birth, the mother and baby “are doing something more important than just lying together. They are falling in love.” Every relationship needs time to grow. The same is true for the relationship between a mom and a new baby. That “Golden Hour” after a baby is born is when they are the most alert and learning about their new world. Your baby is taking in your smell, your voice, your face, and the nutrition you provide. Their new world is you, and that's all your baby needs.
Studies show that there are also health benefits to doing skin to skin with your baby. That contact regulates your baby's heart rate and body temperature. It also helps establish regular breathing patterns and sustains stable blood sugar levels. There are also health benefits for mom! That feeling of “falling in love” with your baby is caused by the high levels of Oxytocin that occur as your baby moves through your birth canal and when you first touch and look at each other. The high levels of Oxytocin are responsible for keeping your uterus contracted to reduce bleeding and helping you and your baby feel calm and responsive. When our bodies work hard, we have a rush of endorphins, which have been shown to help a mother’s ability to bond with her baby. Endorphin levels are especially high within the first 20 minutes of birth, and they are strongly present in breast milk! This is the ideal time to initiate breastfeeding!
How can you make sure you and your baby are given this time?
Request that your baby is placed on your bare abdomen or chest right after birth, with a warmed blanket laid over you both.
If baby is healthy, you can also ask that any examinations be done while the baby is in your arms.
If you plan to do certain vaccinations at birth, you can ask that they be delayed until after you've had that special time together.
If you aren't able to do skin-to-skin immediately, your baby will still benefit from doing skin-to- skin with your partner or support person.
In the event of a Cesarean birth, ask your provider about doing a family-centered Cesarean in which the lights are dimmed and your baby is placed on your chest after surgery.
The first moments after birth are so important in cultivating the bond between you and your baby. Take that time. Rest with your baby. This is just the beginning of an amazing foundation of love, trust, and understanding. But also remember that forming a strong attachment to your baby is not done only during the first few hours. It is a lifelong process.
This post is the final chapter of our 7 part series, How To Alleviate Fears and Manage Labor Pain.
Part 1 can be read here.
Read part 2, Hormones and the Waiting Game
Read part 3, Make Labor Productive
Read part 4, When Childbirth Moved Into Hospitals
Read part 5, Avoid Routine Medical Interventions
Read part 6, Benefits of Upright and Spontaneous Pushing
Supported by research studies that examine the benefits and risks of maternity care practices, these 6 birth practices are the foundation of Lamaze childbirth classes taught around the world. These healthy practices are designed to simplify the birth process to alleviate fear and manage discomfort. No matter what type of labor, the length of your labor, or your confidence level, these practices are key to keeping you and your baby as safe and healthy as possible.
To learn more, schedule a private lesson here. Our team will help you get evidence-based care and self-advocate for what you want on your baby’s birthday and beyond.
