Skin To Skin & Breastfeeding

Skin to skin and breastfeeding

Holding your baby against your skin straight after birth will calm your baby, steady their breathing and help keep them warm. This helps your baby feel safe and secure and helps you bond with each other.

Your baby should stay in skin-to-skin (tummy to tummy) contact with you until the first breastfeed, or for at least an hour, to encourage breastfeeding to occur.

More detail (see the online version for links to more detailed content)

External links and downloads (see the online version for more information at other websites)

Monitoring mother and baby after birth [2]

The skin to skin location also makes it easier for parents, and the health professional who is caring for you and your baby, to monitor your baby's breathing after birth. For more detail, you may like to read the following consensus statement (written for health professionals).

[3]