Breastfeeding is a tough gig. Yes, it is natural, but does that mean it's easy? No way! This is a new process for two individuals who are not only trying out a vital life process for the first time, but
together while they are
just getting to know each other! For that and many other reasons is why I have initiating skin to skin contact as one of my
Top 10 Tips for Breastfeeding Mommas. The idea of skin to skin is gaining in popularity for topics that do not necessarily have to do with breastfeeding. Give Kangaroo Care a quick google and you will find articles that speak of the benefits of skin to skin contact for premature infants to support development and assist a baby in regaining equilibrium in the instances of things like infection or respiratory distress.
The truth is, Kangaroo Care is fantastic for any newborn baby for the same reasons, and for a breastfeeding mother it can set a solid foundation of bonding.
The Cleveland Clinic states many benefits such as temperature stability, breathing rate stability, O2 rate improvement, increased sleep times, increased weight gain, and...
more success in breastfeeding!
If you think about these benefits, they make sense! As counter intuitive as it is, when a person gets hypothermia it is suggested that they be stripped down and then have contact with another naked person under loose blankets until their body temperature stabilizes
(CDC). A newborn baby is
not in a hypothermic state, but think about the drop in temperature they experience at birth: From a balmy 98 degrees en utero to a room temperature of around 70 degrees! This may be why a lot of providers move a new baby to a heat lamp incubator immediately, but would that be the same treatment as someone with hypothermia? No, the best option is plopping that baby on his momma and covering them both up together!
Breathing rates stabilize faster with skin to skin as well. I think about the times I was with a woman in labor and she needed an external rhythm to keep her breaths steady. A baby is most in tune with its mother when first born, there is no better person to provide that rhythm than her. The increased sleep and weight gains go along with the fact that once baby is close to Mom, he is comfortable, in as familiar of a place as he can get. How much more difficult is it to fall asleep in a new place as opposed to your own comfy bed?
Then, the reason we are all here- the increased success rates of breastfeeding. Before I go any further I am going to link two videos of the Newborn Chest Crawl, this one is from
BreastCrawl. Org and has a plethora of additional information. This is one that I loved on
YouTube that shows how strong both the instinct and the newborn are. What you will see in both of these videos are a couple of common elements (1) Skin to skin contact between mother and baby right after birth (Note the vernix on both babies) (2) a brand new baby wriggling down to its mother's breast, bound and determined to reach it
instinctually and (3) a beautiful wide latch for the baby to begin nursing for the first time. I love this idea of a baby leading the journey in breastfeeding. I am not saying that every baby that does skin to skin is going to latch perfectly the first time and everything will be peaches for the rest of eternity. What I am saying is that there is trust established by letting a baby crawl and latch on its own! And, don't worry, it can sometimes take an hour. Of course, there are ways to nudge baby along as well, I know you will both be anxious to get started!
Started... That's the key word here because the benefits of skin to skin contact do not just drop off to zero once that first nursing session is over. Quite the contrary, skin to skin is recommended as often as possible for the first few months of life! In this case, the benefits are a two way street. The skin to skin contact, or Kangaroo Care, affects the hormones. It will increase the Oxytocin of all parties. Oxytocin is the "cuddle" or "feel-good" hormone. It allows bonding to occur, so when that mother and baby become closer and establish a loving trust. Skin to skin is also believed decrease Cortisol, the stress hormone. Really, skin to skin is a double whammy in the best way! Another wondrous of this whole thing is that fathers or adoptive parents can participate in skin to skin as a solid way of bonding with their new family member. Despite what society likes to think, yes, men are chalk full of hormones, too!
The benefit of Oxytocin goes beyond its excellence in creating love and happiness (and causing an amnesia like affect regarding childbirth for mommas!), but it is also is responsible for that let-down reflex that is experienced when a baby cries, or really any time. So, the more oxytocin a mom has the easier her milk will let down. Then, since breastfeeding is based on the law of supply and demand, the more milk that is released the more will be produced!
This blog just scratches the surface of why skin to skin is so great. I encourage my readers to do their own research and share with me what they found most interesting! As I said, there are many benefits, maybe even enumerable. I personally think that one of the best is that you get a front row seat to sniff that perfect newborn baby head smell!
Joyfully, Jess
