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Published on KidsHealth NZ (https://www.kidshealth.org.nz)

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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.

Find out more about the importance of skin to skin [1]

Check KidsHealth's breastfeeding section [2]

Check KidsHealth's infant nutrition section [3]

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

The importance of skin to skin contact [1]

Find out more about why skin to skin contact between you and your baby is the best place for your baby to start life. 

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

Skin to skin contact (Unicef, UK) [4]

Skin-to-skin contact helps babies to adjust to life outside the womb and supports mothers to initiate breastfeeding and develop close, loving relationships with their baby.

Getting closer - a video (Australian Breastfeeding Association) [5]

A video showing the importance of skin to skin contact.

Attachment to the breast (Australian Breastfeeding Association) [6]

A baby who attaches well to the breast can help prevent many breastfeeding problems. It's more likely for breastfeeding to be comfortable and for the baby to be able to remove milk well from the breast. This helps ensure a good milk supply so the baby grows well. Find out about baby-led attachment.

Skin to skin contact video (Auckland DHB) [7]

Find out why skin to skin contact is so important for baby, Mum and partner.

Mama Aroha - breastfeeding basics (App) [8]

The Mama Aroha app provides information about many aspects of breastfeeding. It includes information on the importance of breastfeeding, support for breastfeeding skin to skin, supply and demand feeding, what to expect, feeding cues, latching and positioning, hand expressing and milk storage. Check out how to use the app (PDF, 1.73 MB) [9]. 

BreastFedNZ - breastfeeding help, information and support (App) [10]

This app provides information about various aspects of breastfeeding - from how to prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy, through to the first few days and the early weeks. In provides guidance on common issues such as latching and positioning your baby, hand expressing and breast care. In addition, the app has information on more unusual issues such as breastfeeding twins and early babies (premature), and frequently asked questions around breastfeeding such as medicines, contraception and smoking when breastfeeding.

This page last reviewed 30 May 2022.
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Source URL: https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/skin-skin-breastfeeding

Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/importance-skin-skin-contact
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/breastfeeding
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/nutrition-0-12-months
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2617
[5] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2618
[6] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2619
[7] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2620
[8] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2683
[9] http://file:///C:/Users/KatherineL/OneDrive%20-%20healthAlliance/Documents/01AAA_Website/Nutrition%20and%20obesity/2022/Mama_Aroha-instruction-A5.pdf
[10] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2692
[11] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1251