Experts believe that cuddling and skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her new-born baby can form a powerful bond and connection between them both.
Health experts at Stanford believe that after a baby has spent nine months cuddled up in the belly, skin-to-skin contact might be the perfect start that they both need. They also suggest that expectant mothers should add this to their birth plan.
According to Susan Crowe, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine: “During this time, babies experience nine instinctive stages: birth cry, relaxation, awakening, activity, resting, ‘crawling’ (a shifting movement toward the breast), familiarization, suckling and sleep,
“For a mother who desires to breastfeed, supporting skin-to-skin time is one way we can help her reach that goal.” She said.
A study even found that babies exposed to skin-to-skin contact interacted more with their mothers and cried less than babies receiving usual hospital care.
Another study even found that babies who are kept skin to skin with the mother immediately after birth for at least an hour are more likely to latch on without any help, especially if the mother did not receive medication during the labour or birth.
According to Susan Crowe, “Even for babies born by cesarean section, skin-to-skin time right after delivery can be a wonderful, strong start for both mother and baby.”
Mothers should aim for a skin-to-skin time with their baby, as no negative outcomes have been reported in association with skin-to-skin contact, even with various researches that’s been carried out.
ViV