Nurturing a relationship responsive to your child’s needs will initiate bonding and attachment and mature your child’s emotional, cognitive and neurological development.
One of the initial ways in developing a relationship with your child is by doing skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) after birth. The World Health Organisation recommends that mothers and newborns have skin-to-skin contact immediately after a vaginal birth, and as soon as the mother is alert and responsive after a Caesarean section. Skin-to-skin contact can be defined as placing a naked infant onto the bare chest of the mother (or other parent).
Research shows that this gentle and simple action can;
- Settle your newborn child
- Regulate the baby’s heart rate and breathing, helping them to better adapt to life outside the womb
- Stimulate digestion and show interest in feeding
- Regulate body temperature
- Enable colonisation of the baby’s skin with the mother’s bacteria, thus providing protection against infection
- Stimulate the release of hormones to support breastfeeding (UNICEF, 2019).
Children born prematurity or with health complications and needing care in NICU and/or SCN units, also benefit with skin-to-skin contact (when appropriate) by;
- Improving oxygen saturation
- Reducing cortisol (stress) levels particularly following painful procedures
- Encouraging pre-feeding behaviour
- Assisting with growth
- May reduce hospital stay
- If the mother expresses following a period of skin-to-skin contact, her milk volume will improve and the milk expressed will contain the most up-to-date antibodies (UNICEF, 2019).
Research has too shown that one of the causes of postpartum haemorrhage is the prolongation of third stage of labour, the delivery of the placenta and membranes. Mother-infant skin to skin contact immediately after delivery is one of the non-pharmacological interventions to reduce this stage. (Karimi, F et. al 2019)
Several studies have also supported the relationship of skin-to-skin contact and good establishment of breastfeeding, particularly babies born via caesarean section (Guala, A et. al 2017). Caesarean birth is known to reduce initiation of breastfeeding, increase the length of time before the first breastfeed, reduce the incidence of exclusive breastfeeding, significantly delay the onset of lactation and increase the likelihood of supplementation. Further evidence was provided that immediate or early skin-to-skin contact after a Caesarean section may increase breastfeeding initiation, decrease time to the first breastfeed, reduce formula supplementation in hospital, increase bonding and maternal satisfaction, maintain the temperature of newborns and reduce newborn stress (Stevens, J et. al 2014).
If skin-to-skin contact can’t be achieved following the birth or once home, other ways to comfort and bond with your child include;
- Talk to your baby as they find voices interesting.
- Hold and touch your baby as skin-on-skin contact reduces stress and improves breathing and heart rate.
- Spend time with your baby by singing songs, recite nursery rhymes and imitate their facial expressions.
- Soothe your baby when they are upset or distressed.
- Read stories to your baby from the beginning (RWH, 2019)
Skin to skin contact is also a beautiful way for the co-parent to initiate bonding with their child and strengthen their growing relationship.
So now that you are aware of the wealth of benefits skin to skin contact offers both parent and child, let’s talk about what EXACTLY happens when a child is placed onto their mother’s chest following the birth.
Most newborns will cry immediately after being born, this is a normal response from the transition of in-utero to the outside world. Following the initial crying response, the child will typically enter a state of relaxation, were they will display little movements and most often fall asleep. After a period of rest the child will start to slowly wake, orientate them self and respond either to voice, touch and maternal scent. This is by either moving towards the breast, look at their mother’s face and/or reach their hand out towards their mother’s face. Without interfering many newborns will be able to wriggle towards the breasts themselves. Once they have found the breast, they tend to rest for a while (often this can be mistaken for the child not be hungry or not wanting to feed) - remember that it’s a lot of energy for a newborn to move around on their own! From this, they will familarise themselves to the breast; by nuzzling, licking or smelling around the breast. It’s important that this moment isn’t rushed, as many babies are able to self-attach to the breast and begin to feed. Generally mothers will need some assistance with positioning thereafter. The child will continue to feed until satisfied. For mother’s not planning on breastfeeding, skin to skin contact still remains an important way in bonding with your child.
Cara x
UNICEF (2019) Skin to Skin Contact. Received 16 July 2019 from https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/skin-to-skin-contact/
The Royal Women’s Hospital (2019). Bonding and Attachment. Viewed 16 July 2019. Retrieved from https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/at-home-with-your-baby/bonding-attachment
Karimi FZ, Haeidarian Miri H, Salehian, Khadivadeh t, Bakhski M & Iran J (2019) The Effect of Mother-Infant Skin to Skin Contact after Birth on Third Stage of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Public Health Journal April 2019; 48 (4): 612-620. Viewed 20 July 2019.
Guala A, Boscardini L, Visentin R, Angellotti P, Grugni L, Barbaglia M, Chapin E, Castelli E & Finale E (2017) Skin-to-Skin Contact in Cesarean Birth and Duration of Breastfeeding: A Cohort Study. Scientific World Journal. 2017:1940756. doi: 10.1155/2017/1940756. Epub 7 September 2017. Viewed 20 July 2019.
Stevens J, Schmied V, Burns E & Dahlen H(2014) Immediate or early skin-to-skin contact after a Caesarean section: a review of the literature. Maternal Child Nutr. 014;10(4):456-73. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12128. Epub 10 April 2014. Viewed 20 July 2019.