Skin-to-skin contact is when a baby is placed face and tummy down onto the mother’s chest directly after giving birth and after the baby is cleaned. These first few hours of cuddling allow the mother and the baby to get to know each other. Skin-to-skin contact can benefit babies for months and that’s why here at Hydrotopia we strongly encourage it.
What are the health benefits of skin-to-skin contact?
Skin-to-skin contact calms and relaxes both the mother and the baby. It regulates the baby’s heart rate and breathing, helping them to adapt to life outside the womb and adjust to their new world. It stimulates the baby’s digestion and increases the baby’s interest in feeding time therefore, stimulating the release of hormones that encourages pre-feeding behaviour. It regulates the baby’s temperature and enables colonisation of the baby’s skin with the mother’s healthy bacteria, providing protection for your baby against any infections. There are also many other health benefits that come with skin-to-skin contact such as:
- It improves the saturation of oxygen
- It reduces cortisol/stress levels for both the mother and the baby
- It assists with the growth of your baby
- It improves the amount of milk the mother can express. The milk then also contains the most up-to-date antibodies.
At Hydrotopia we also offer baby massages which is another therapeutic way for a mother and baby to bond through physical touch. Baby massages are relaxing for both the mother and baby. They aid in the development and growth of your little one as well as reduce stress levels for both the mother and the baby. Here at Hydrotopia we are passionate about assisting in building a closer bond between a mother and her baby. Contact Hydrotopia today to learn more about the amazing benefits of skin-to-skin contact.