The Baby Website - Skin to Skin Contact

Skin to Skin Contact

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) simply means placing a newborn baby on mum's chest at birth or soon after.

The idea comes from animal studies that show the importance of closeness between mother and baby, which in turn leads to successful suckling and hence survival.

Sensory stimulation involving warmth, touch and smell are an extremely powerful stimulant causing oxytocic release, which in turn raises the skin temperature of the breast, decreasing anxiety, increasing calmness and enhancing parental behaviours. Recent work has also looked into the subject of 'biological nurturing '. This looks at the instinctive ways in which women and babies respond to each other whilst breastfeeding, giving us an important insight into the mother/baby relationship.

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Although skin-to-skin contact is the evolutionary norm, over the past century in industrialised society, it has sadly become increasingly common to separate mother and baby. Thankfully times are changing and the importance of early bonding, with its beneficial effects, can no longer be ignored.

A recent review of SSC found many positive outcomes that include successful breastfeeding, reduced infections and complications for the pre-term infant, better bonding/attachment, temperature control and blood sugar stability. A happier mother and more contented infant are the inevitable result!

Other Skin-to-Skin Contact

Although SSC should ideally occur between mother and baby, there is evidence to suggest it can be just as beneficial when carried out between siblings. An American study documented the amazing results after placing twins together in cots, which led to immediate and consistent cessation of unstable symptoms. This is already widespread in Europe and is encouraged once the infants are discharged.

Another interesting study looked at the benefits of Kangaroo Care (SSC for the tiny baby) for fathers, adoptive parents and their critically ill infant. So often the father feels left out, at this vulnerable time, and to be able to bond with his newborn can prove vital to the experience of parenthood. The results were overwhelmingly positive and have implications for future care providers.

Another variation of SSC that has been studied is called TAC-TIC Therapy.

This is used for premature infants and stands for: Touching and Caressing (TAC) - Tender in Caring (TIC). It consists of gentle and light systematic skin-to-skin contact - stroking from head-to-toe! The four main principles include gentleness, rhythm, equilibrium and continuity. By using mere delicate, stroking movements, whilst always having one hand in contact with the body, the baby will feel more secure and this will lead to positive results that include increased weight gain, secretory immunity, positive comfort behaviours and stability of physiological responses. Reduced length of hospital stay was also recorded.
SSC played an important role in the resumption of normal respiration and heart rate.

Skincare and SSC

Breastfeeding is obviously the best choice for your baby as it is known to strengthen the immune system, giving some protection against allergies developing. However, did you know that SSC in the period immediately after birth, as well as during breastfeeding, is an excellent way of helping to colonise your baby 's skin with friendly and protective bacteria, which in turn will reduce the risk of secondary skin infections developing?

Breastfeeding and SSC

Breastfeeding confers countless benefits to both mother and baby. In fact the benefits are so comprehensive that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. However little is mentioned of how beneficial it can be for fathers too. Not only can they feel safe in the knowledge that their baby is receiving the best possible start in life but their partner will also get health benefits that will last for years to come. It is often stated that fathers will feel 'left-out ' of the parenting process if the mother breastfeeds but this could not be further from the truth.

The wonderful closeness experienced by the mother during breastfeeding can also be experienced by the baby 's father just by having periods of SSC. By placing a baby on its father 's chest, wearing only their nappy, the same bond can be formed that is seen between mother and baby whilst feeding. This will greatly enhance the father-baby relationship and lead to a closer bond as the child grows.

It was thought that fathers could feel more involved in the parenting process if they sometimes gave the baby a bottle of milk or expressed breast milk. In truth this may not be the case and periods of SSC, once the baby has completed a breastfeed with his/her mother, will be more likely to establish a deeper relationship between father and baby.

So go on all you fathers out there - get your kit off and cuddle your baby!

Main Advantages of Skin-to-skin Contact ....