Can I Do Skin-to-Skin Contact if I’m Having a C-Section?

This may surprise many moms, but ,YES! 

In fact, when I learned that I was going to have a second c-section, I was a little heartbroken because I wanted to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby right after birth. And when I expressed that to my doctor, she said that I could still have skin-to-skin contact with a c-section delivery.

Just knowing that made me feel so much better.

And when my second baby was born via c-section, I was able to have him placed directly on my chest after he was weighed and cleared. He and I cuddled for the first time while they finished closing me up.

So if you are having a planned c-section, ask your doctor if you can have skin-to-skin contact with your baby while you are still in the OR(Operation Room).

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1. Calms Heart and Lung Function

 Although it may not seem like it, being born is hard work. And through the process of coming into a new world outside of the uterine home that your baby once knew, it can be very stressful.

So this is one way that skin-to-skin contact can help your baby make an easier transition from the womb.

Skin-to-skin contact can help your baby’s heart and lung function to calm down and regulate. This may be partly because while laying on your chest, your newborn baby can hear your heartbeat, which is a familiar sound for him or her.

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2. Regulates Blood Sugar

Along with calming your baby’s breathing and heart rate, skin-to-skin contact can also help your baby’s blood sugar to stabilize. And since newborns are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) skin-to-skin contact may help your baby to avoid having their blood sugar plummet.

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3. Stabilizes Body Temperature

Think about it this way. Your baby has been inside your uterus where it’s warm and cosy for their entire life up until now. So being pulled out and into a world where it’s chilly can be a huge shock for a newborn baby.

This is another reason that many doctors may encourage you to place your baby on your chest right after birth. A new mother’s body is naturally warm after giving birth and can help to regulate her newborn baby’s body temperature.

4. Initates Breastfeeding

How important is skin-to-skin after birth?

Another important way that skin-to-skin contact can help moms and babies is by initiating breastfeeding. 

In fact, while your baby is on your chest for the first time, they will smell your breast milk and will likely start rooting (moving their head towards anything that touches their cheek trying to find the breast).

So if you take the time to practice skin-to-skin with your newborn right after birth it can help your colosturm (pre-breast milk which is packed full of nutrients that protect your baby) to flow more easily. It can also help moms to breastfeed longer by building up breast milk supply.

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5. Helps Baby Cry Less

Can skin-to-skin contact really help my newborn baby cry less?

Yes. Your newborn baby is not used to feeling soft blankets or even having a diaper on them. Because of this, birth can be a terrifying experience for a baby.

But if you place your baby directly on your chest and have skin-to-skin contact after birth, this reminds them more of the uterine home they once occupied in your belly. And on top of that, hearing their mother’s voice and heartbeat also provides that comforting reminder of the womb.

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6. Builds Mom and Baby’s Bonding

From the time your baby was conceived, your baby started bonding with you. Especially since you are really all they knew from inside the womb. 

Skin-to-skin contact is also a great way for a new mother to start bonding with your newborn baby from brith. It’s the perfect moment to start counting toes or feeling that head full of hair.

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7. Boosts Baby’s Immune System

When your baby is born, he or she is vulnerable to getting sick from everything around them. And realisticly there is no possible way you can avoid all germs.

But one great way that you can protect your baby from getting sick is with skin-to-skin contact.

Skin-to-skin contact allows the baby to get friendly bacteria from their mother’s body and also some immunities that protect against illnesses and diseases.

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8. Relieves Pain for Baby

Newborn babies go through a lot of poking after being born. Of course, it’s all done to make sure that they are healthy, but there are ways to help relieve pain and discomfort for your newborn baby.

The best way to keep your baby calm and comfortable is by having skin-to-skin contact for as much of that time as possible. Skin-to-skin contact can relieve pain when babies need to have blood tests or any other procedures done.

9. Gives Mom a Chance to Rest

Whether you are having a vaginal birth filled with lots of pushing or you are having a c-section delivery, giving birth is hard work and tiring. That’s one reason that many new moms love to have skin-to-skin contact with their newborn baby directly after giving birth.

Skin-to-skin contact can allow moms to rest and snuggle with their baby after pushing their body so hard.

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10. Reduces Risk of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious problem that affects many moms during their postpartum months. However, skin-to-skin contact can certainly reduce a new mom’s risk of suffering from postpartum depression.

It does this by releasing a hormone that lowers the mom’s stress and promotes healing througout the body which is certainly needed after giving birth.

11. A Way for Dads to Bond with Baby

Being a dad is hard. Sometimes new dads get overlooked when a new baby is born even though they really can do a lot to help.

Can dads do skin-to-skin?

Yes. Dads can definitely have skin-to-skin contact with their newborn baby. In fact, many dads love cuddling with their newborn. This also provides a great bonding experience for newborns and dads.

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