Bringing something new into the world is a miracle. Skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn is one of the many ways to support the bond between a mother and her newborn, and it is one of the most powerful and essential. Yet this extremely simple yet powerful practice has been billed as the cornerstone of forming a solid connection and developing feelings between mother and infant.
Skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care is when a baby is immediately placed, or during infancy, on the bare chest of the mother (or father) right after birth. By contact, the baby can feel the warmth, hear the mother’s heartbeat, and enjoy her natural smell. This practice is all magic, but not only closeness; it sets the ground for an excellent mom-baby bond that impacts the baby emotionally and physically.
Must Read: Foundation of Love: Building a Strong Bond with Your Baby
When a baby is laid on its mother's chest, a cascade of physiological and emotional responses is ignited. That skin-to-skin contact triggers the release of oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone,” which results in more feelings of attachment and trust. This connection regulates the baby's temperature, heart rate, and breathing, giving it a feeling of security and stabilization.
Additionally, research shows that bonding moments help lower cortisol levels of both mother and baby, reducing stress and anxiety. Intimacy is emotional nurturing for the intimate, helping their brain develop and foster well-being during their most formative stage, being a newborn. This contact between mother and baby is outlined by their profound connection with the synchronization of mother and baby’s rhythms.
Skin-to-skin contact helps mothers form a deep emotional bond with their babies, which helps them feel more connected to them. Often, this practice increases not only the sense of a healthier culture and a person's feeling of empowerment in activities pertaining to caring for the baby but also decreases feelings of postnatal depression or anxiety. With a harmonious relationship that works for both the mother and baby, women report feeling more attuned to their baby’s needs.
In this type of birth, babies are put skin-to-skin immediately after birth, and they have an innate ability to latch onto their mother’s breast. This natural instinct could help establish breastfeeding, encourage better milk production, and contribute to the mother-baby bonding process. Breastfeeding is much smoother as prolactin and oxytocin, the hormones for milk production and ejection, are released closer together.
Oxytocin helps not only with bonding but also with the mother’s physical recovery. It stimulates uterine contractions to minimize bleeding after birth and hasten healing. This also boosts the mother’s prenatal hormonal system and aids the mother in knowing that she is ready for the challenges (like breastfeeding) that this is.
In an environment of security, a newborn is surrounded by warmth, the rhythm of the mother’s heartbeat, and her scent. This is a critical early bonding moment for the baby’s emotional development and can set the baby up to build healthy relationships. Sprightly babies who have regular skin-to-skin contact often have lower stress levels and better emotional control.
Skin-to-skin contact helps regulate vital signs for the baby, such as heart rate, breathing, and blood sugar levels. Premature babies who may have trouble staying stable would benefit from this regulation. The newborn physiological systems receive the support to thrive by syncing with the mother’s body.
Babies with regular skin-to-skin contact usually sleep better and for longer. Healthy brain development and overall well-being are improved through improved sleep patterns. This closeness creates a sense of calm and safety, decreasing the baby’s restlessness and helping support the baby moving through sleep cycles.
The mother's microbiome has direct contact with the baby’s, thus helping the baby’s immune system. It's invaluable natural protection from infections in the first few months of life and promotes a healthy microbiota that supports long-term health.
The ideal time for skin-to-skin contact is from the beginning, the golden hour when the baby is most receptive before he is screened. The mother-baby bond is established in these first few days of life, leading to proper baby adaptation to the outside world.
It’s okay to bond with mom and make the baby comfortable and undisturbed during this time. However, the intimate connection can only be focused on in a quiet, warm, distraction-free setting.
When you’re not with your baby, skin-to-skin contact helps reinforce the bond and continues to offer ongoing benefits. Practicing this little bit of behavioral therapy can be integrated into daily routines, like feeding or before bed, and can really add to your relationship.
Fathers, too, can make skin-to-skin contact and create their own bond with the baby. This helps create a feeling of shared parenting and also helps the baby get used to both parents.
Skin-to-skin doesn’t end with the newborn period. Cuddling and constant contact can keep the relationship going as the baby grows. This is a bedtime comfort, a connection even into infancy.
Although skin-to-skin contact is helpful for the transition to breastfeeding, it can and will still facilitate breastfeeding even for those choosing to bottle-feed. However, the emotional connection and physiological benefit of this practice continue to remain the same, and its value is universal.
The first moments of a baby’s life are essential, but skin-to-skin contact remains important throughout the baby’s first weeks and months. The closeness that continues helps to keep the bond warm and plays a role in supporting the baby’s development.
Preemies do best with this practice. Kangaroo care is encouraged in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to help the baby recover and develop. This contact stabilizes vital signs and supports weight gain, as well as a sense of security in these vulnerable infants.
Heartfelt stories reveal that countless mothers have shared that skin-to-skin contact changed their relationship with their newborns. These are moments to calm a fussy baby or moments to build confidence with a new mom. One mother tells of a premature baby who was barely breathing but made a near-immediate recovery once put on the mother's chest. These give those experiences away and prove the undeniable power of this practice.
Another mother said that consistent skin-to-skin contact helped her navigate the challenges of breastfeeding. However, her baby had a slight tongue tie and had been struggling to latch. Skin-to-skin sessions, though, allowed the baby to get back in touch with its natural instincts and, eventually, allowed for successful breastfeeding.
Suggested Read: Effective Communication with Your Parenting Partner Guide
Skin-to-skin contact is more than a trend; it’s a time-tested practice rooted in nature and science-supported. The benefits are profound and far-reaching, whether fostering the mom-and-newborn bond, promoting the baby’s emotional development, or enhancing breastfeeding success.
Incorporating skin-to-skin contact into the early days of motherhood can create a foundation of love, trust, and connection that lasts a lifetime. This simple yet profound act offers a powerful reminder for moms navigating the challenges of newborn care: the most meaningful connections begin heart-to-heart. By embracing this practice, parents can give their babies the best possible start, ensuring their first experiences are warm, secure, and loving.
This content was created by AI