58: Skin to Skin Contact

No matter what type of birth you have, the most important thing after your baby is born is that you get skin to skin with your baby. Skin to skin means that your baby is not swaddled or clothed and their bare skin is placed belly down against your bare chest. Being skin to skin stabilizes your baby’s heart rate, breathing and temperature, and reduces stress in both you and your baby. It also increases your interactions with your baby and increases the likelihood and length of breastfeeding. The benefits to both you and your baby are well documented.