Skin-to-skin contact means holding your baby against your skin, usually under a blanket or loose top. It is also sometimes called kangaroo care.
When your baby is born, you will be encouraged to continue safe skin-to-skin contact for at least 1 hour.
Important
It's important to keep your baby safe during skin-to-skin contact.
Your baby's head should be turned to one side. Do not keep their chin down on your chest or have their mouth and nose covered.
Benefits of skin-to-skin contact
Skin-to-skin contact is important for all babies, regardless of whether they are breastfed or bottle fed.
Having skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth helps to calm, warm and relax your baby.
Your baby will also be able to hear the comforting sound of your heartbeat and voice.
During skin-to-skin contact, you and your baby will produce a hormone called oxytocin. This helps you feel close to your baby.
Skin-to-skin contact helps your baby:
- stay warm
- stabilise their body temperature
- feel less stress from being born
- adjust to life outside the womb
- stabilise their breathing
- regulate their blood sugar
- get good bacteria (microbiome) from their mother's skin, supporting the development of a healthy gut and to protect against infection
Skin-to-skin contact will also help you to:
- recognise and learn your baby's signals sooner - including signs of hunger, contentment and discomfort
- release hormones that keep you calm and help you to produce breast milk
- get more confident in holding and taking care of your baby
Benefits for premature babies
Skin-to-skin contact has benefits for babies born prematurely in the hospital or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Skin-to-skin contact can help to:
- improve your baby's oxygen levels
- encourage pre-feeding behaviours
- reduce your baby's stay in hospital
- improve your milk production - if you express following skin-to-skin contact
Touching and holding your premature baby
Safe skin-to-skin contact
It's important to keep your baby safe during skin-to-skin contact.
Your baby's head should be turned to one side. Keep their neck straight and not extended too much.
Make sure you can always see your baby’s face. Do not keep their chin down on your chest or have their mouth and nose covered.
Keep their shoulders flat against your chest. Their head and arms should be above your breasts and their legs should be below your breasts.
The first hours after birth are an important time to observe your baby closely while enjoying skin-to-skin contact.
Keep an eye on your baby’s:
- skin colour
- temperature - use a blanket to keep them warm
- activity - check if they are awake or asleep
- muscle tone - when your baby's arms and legs are bent up, they have good muscle tone
- breathing - watch for regular breathing and listen for sounds such as grunting
Urgent advice: Ask your midwife or doctor for help immediately if:
- your baby's skin changes colour or turns pale - if they have black or brown skin, check their nail beds, lips, tongue or inside their mouth
- your baby's skin feels too hot or cold
- your baby becomes unusually floppy or difficult to wake
- they have difficulty breathing or make unusual breathing noises such as grunting
Create a comfortable environment
You should always be awake and alert. Sit comfortably in a semi-reclined position. Make sure your baby cannot fall or get trapped in bedding.
Do not rush to dress your baby after birth. If possible, wear a loose, front open top. This can make it easier to do skin-to-skin contact.
Enjoy this time without distractions (for example, your phone) in a well-lit room.
If you feel sleepy, very tired or unwell, ask your partner or a member of staff for help. They can place your baby safely in the cot until you are ready to continue skin-to-skin contact.
Ask your midwife or doctor for help if you have any concerns.
Safe skin-to-skin contact (video)
Skin-to-skin contact after the birth
Immediately after the birth, a midwife will place your baby on your chest and dry any excess fluids. Your baby will be naked (except for a hat and nappy). You will get a blanket to keep you and your baby warm.
Enjoy this time. Rest and relax together. The hours after your baby's birth are the most important to bond and attach with your baby.
Plan for 1 hour skin-to-skin
Try and plan for a skin-to-skin session for at least 1 hour. This gives your baby time to rest, recover from birth and begin their natural feeding behaviours.
If you had a caesarean
If you had a planned caesarean and both you and your baby are well, your midwife will place your baby safely on your chest for skin-to-skin immediately after birth.
If skin-to-skin contact is interrupted, you can restart this as soon as possible in the theatre or recovery rooms.
If you have an emergency caesarean section, your midwife will let you know when you can do skin-to-skin contact.
If you are not feeling well enough, your birth partner can be supported to do skin-to-skin.
What happens during a caesarean
Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin
After birth, babies having skin-to-skin contact will:
- briefly cry
- relax for a period of time, and move very little as they recover from the birth
- start to wake up, and respond to their mother’s voice
- begin to move their arms, shoulders and head
- appear to move or crawl towards the breast
- rest when they have found the breast - it is normal if your baby does not show signs of wanting to feed at this stage
- begin to nuzzle, smell and lick the area around the breast - your baby will work out how to best attach themselves
- self-attach and begin to breastfeed - you and your baby may need a little help with positioning
- come off the breast when they have had a feed
Most term healthy babies will follow these steps within the first hour after birth if skin-to-skin time is not interrupted.
If you have medicine during labour or birth, your baby may be drowsy and this process can take longer.
Where possible, try to avoid interrupting skin-to-skin contact during the first hour after birth. Doing skin-to-skin without interruptions helps to support early feeding behaviours and breastfeeding. Weighing your baby after birth can take place at a later time.
Skin-to-skin time increases oxytocin production and interaction between you and your baby.
Continue skin-to-skin regularly
Continue skin-to-skin contact as much as possible during the early weeks, months and years of your baby's life.
Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact can help your baby develop a healthy gut bacteria (microbiome).
Building a healthy relationship
It's helpful to have lots of continued skin-to-skin contact in a relaxing and comfortable environment.
This can help you to form a healthy and responsive relationship with your baby. For example, you may pick up on early signs of hunger before your baby even cries.
It can help your baby form healthy brain connections. It encourages feelings of safety and comfort.
Remember, you cannot spoil your baby by keeping them close and responding to their needs.
Attachment and bonding with your baby
Advice on how to use baby carriers and slings safely
Partner's skin-to-skin contact
Your birth partner can also take part in skin-to-skin contact to bond with the baby.
Partners are encouraged to spend uninterrupted time in skin-to-skin contact with their baby.
If you or your baby are unable to have skin-to-skin contact after birth, you can start it later.