Bringing your baby into the world is a life-changing moment, and in those first few hours, there’s nothing more powerful than holding them close, skin-to-skin. This simple yet profound practice isn’t just a heartwarming experience—it’s a crucial step in your baby’s development and well-being.
Many new mums hear about skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, but did you know that its benefits extend well beyond those first moments? In fact, maintaining skin-to-skin for at least 24 hours (then as much as possible thereafter) and incorporating your significant other in this practice can have lifelong advantages for both you and your baby. Here’s why skin-to-skin contact is so important and why it should be a key part of your breastfeeding journey.
Encourages Breastfeeding and Helps Prevent Nursing Strikes
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it doesn’t always come easily. Some babies may struggle to latch, and others may unexpectedly refuse the breast—a phenomenon known as a nursing strike. These strikes can be distressing, leaving many mums anxious and uncertain about their baby’s feeding routine.
This is where skin-to-skin contact can work wonders. Keeping your baby close to your chest helps them stay familiar with your scent, the warmth of your skin, and the comforting rhythm of your heartbeat. It creates a nurturing environment that encourages your baby to latch naturally and reinforces the breastfeeding bond. Many mums find that nursing strikes are resolved quicker with consistent skin-to-skin sessions.
Calms Both Mum and Baby
Motherhood is a rollercoaster of emotions, and in those early days, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Your baby, too, is adjusting to life outside the womb, and the transition can be challenging.
Skin-to-skin contact has a magical ability to soothe both you and your little one. When you hold your baby against your bare chest, their heart rate stabilises, their temperature regulates, and their stress hormones decrease. At the same time, your body releases oxytocin—often called the ‘love hormone’—which promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and strengthens your emotional bond. This deep sense of connection is essential in those first few days and beyond.
Promotes Milk Flow and Supports Breastfeeding Success
One of the most incredible benefits of skin-to-skin contact is its ability to help your body produce and release breast milk. When your baby is placed on your chest, their natural instinct is to root, nuzzle, and find the breast. This stimulates your body to produce oxytocin, which plays a key role in the let-down reflex, helping your milk to flow more freely.
If you’re struggling with milk supply, regular skin-to-skin contact can be a powerful way to enhance lactation. Even if your baby isn’t actively feeding, the close contact can trigger your body’s natural breastfeeding cues, making nursing easier and more effective over time.
Why You Should Maintain Skin-to-Skin Contact
While some hospitals encourage immediate skin-to-skin after birth, it’s important to continue this practice for at least 24 hours—and even longer if possible. The first full day of life is a critical time for bonding, breastfeeding, and helping your baby feel safe and secure. Try to get in as much skin-to-skin for the weeks following your birth and include your significant other in this.
This doesn’t mean you need to hold your baby constantly, but allowing as much direct contact as possible—whether it’s during feeds, while resting, or simply cuddling—can significantly impact their well-being and your breastfeeding success. If you need to take a break, encourage your partner or significant other to have their own skin-to-skin time. Babies benefit greatly from this closeness with both parents, and it can help them feel more secure and comforted.
The Long-Term Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
The impact of skin-to-skin goes beyond the first few days. Here are some lasting benefits:
Stronger immune system – Babies who experience early skin-to-skin have improved immune function, helping them fight off infections more effectively.
Better sleep patterns – Babies tend to sleep more soundly and for longer stretches when they have regular skin-to-skin contact.
Reduced stress levels – Skin-to-skin helps lower cortisol (the stress hormone) in both mum and baby, leading to a calmer household.
Improved weight gain – Babies held skin-to-skin often feed more effectively, leading to better weight gain in the early weeks.
A Simple Yet Powerful Practice
The beauty of skin-to-skin contact is that it requires nothing but you and your baby. No special equipment, no complicated techniques—just pure, uninterrupted closeness. Whether you’re a first-time mum or welcoming another little one into your family, embracing skin-to-skin can make a world of difference in your breastfeeding journey and beyond.
So take the time, create a peaceful environment, and cherish those precious moments with your baby. Your body and your baby will thank you for it.
If you are unsure of how skin to skin contact works or would like to benefit from it, ask your nurse, midwife or lactation consultant about it before your beautiful baby arrives. It could make the world's difference!
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