Guest Blog by Dana Havard, RN, IBCLC and Founder of Fresh Squeezed Lactation

What is Skin to Skin Contact?
Skin to Skin Contact (SSC) is when a naked or diaper-only baby is placed on mom’s bare chest. Dads can do SSC too - and they love it! -but for the purpose of making milk, we are referring to moms.

What does SSC do?
If a baby is placed in skin to skin contact immediately after being born, it can set the stage for future breastfeeding. As long as both mom and baby are stable and left uninterrupted, babies go through nine developmental stages that allow them to crawl to, find the breast, and self-latch within that first hour. This very act of contact with your newborn has a host of benefits such as:

• It increases oxytocin which is the feel good/love/bonding hormone, which helps both mom and baby
• with coping.
• Oxytocin helps the uterus contract which decreases bleeding for mom.
• SSC decreases pain for both and helps speed recovery for both after delivery.
• It promotes relaxation of mother and baby, enhancing stress relief.
• SSC initiates the colonization for your baby’s gut flora with good bacteria.
• Babies in SSC are calmer, warmer, have less cortisol (stress hormone) and more stable heartbeat and
• breathing.

But it also helps with your milk supply!

• Increased oxytocin means milk flows easier for baby. Better flow = more production.
• Physiologic state regulation; less crying, more smiling when babies are older, more bonding = more
• production.
• Babies are more alert while feeding, improving feeding effectiveness = more production.
• Less stress = more production.
• Improved sleep – for both! = more production.
• When mom bleeds less initially, she tends to have better production.

When do I do Skin to Skin?

• Nursing is a great time but it’s not just limited to feedings!
• It can be especially helpful for a baby with temperature or glucose issues such as a late preterm infant.
• Used to calm a fussy baby.
• An hour or more spent skin to skin helps baby achieve a more restorative sleep.
• Can help curb the initial weight loss and improve weight gain.
• Holding baby skin to skin during feeds increases milk flow.
• Done just before a pump session can increase how much you express.

How do I do SSC?

• Undress baby down to diaper
• Remove your shirt or wear an open front top.
• If not nursing, reclining with pillows to support your arms is easier than sitting upright.
• Place baby tummy to tummy with you with all of the available surface of their skin in contact with your
• skin.
• If not nursing, they are vertical/up and down with you, their head about breast level and turned to one
• side.
• Cover their back with a blanket.
• Baby is not up under your chin but low enough you can see their face to watch for any changes to the
• color of face or lips.
• Baby’s neck needs to be extended in a mild sniffing position, not with chin tucked or over extended,
• either of which could effect their breathing.

What if I’m unable to do SSC immediately?
It will be ok!
If mom is awake and alert, safe SSC can even be done in the OR, with baby laid across mom’s chest
instead of up and down. But if mom is compromised by medication or condition, baby should be held
SSC with dad and then placed with mom as soon as she is able.
If baby is needing a higher level of care and separated from mom, SSC can be done as soon as baby is
stable, even if baby has monitors, IV’s, or is on respiratory support.
If that initial period is missed and baby is not latching well, get this: you can do SSC while co-bathing!
Being in a warm bath with mom seems to help trigger those innate developmental behaviors and can
jumpstart breastfeeding. It is done in a warm bathroom that can be closed so there is no draft. Use
warm, just above body temperature water, not hot. Mom reclines with baby in SSC. Baby can be
partially in the water but keep the level below the level of their face. Just relax with baby and allow baby
to explore the area, self-attaching if they can, great bonding if they don’t. Good idea to have a support
person with you during this as babies are slippery when wet and it can be difficult for you to get yourself
and baby out of the bath alone.
 

Need to know if baby is getting enough? Click Here

For more support, contact Dana Havard, RN, IBCLC @freshsqueezedlactation