Skin To Skin

Studies have shown the benefits to both baby and mom when Skin to Skin is practiced following a delivery. Lakeside encourages Skin to Skin after a traditional or Cesarean child birth. Skin to Skin is beneficial regardless if mom will be breastfeeding. Both Mom and her newborn baby will benefit from this important bonding time. 

Benefits to baby include: 

• Heart Rate stabilization
• Regulates Body Temperature
• Normal Respiratory Rates
• Stable Blood Sugar
• Natural progression to breastfeeding
• Quicker recovery
• Decreased stress level

What happens and why

• Immediately after birth, the baby is gently dried, visually examined and laid on his mother’s abdomen.
• The infant is in a quiet state of alertness, ready to meet its parents.
• Skin to skin care should be practiced with all mother/baby couplets, not just those planning to breastfeed, as all mothers and babies will benefit from the stress reduction and bonding promoted by extended skin to skin contact.
• During skin to skin care babies often initiate feeding on their own.
• The first feeding appears to have a powerful patterning effect for subsequent feeds.
• At birth, the baby’s skin and gut is sterile, but is quickly colonized by the bacterial flora by those with whom he comes in contact, therefore health care workers should minimize handling the newborn until after the mother and baby have been together.
• Prolonged skin to skin contact reduces the risk of the baby acquiring nosocomial infections.
• The baby will adapt to extrauterine life more quickly, reducing any risk of hypothermia or cardiorespiratory instability.
• Breastfeeding will stimulate the release of oxytocin, reducing the risk of maternal hemorrhage.
• Maternal self-confidence and independence will rise. 
• The BEST way to prevent hypoglycemia is by placing baby in skin-to-skin contact with his mother immediately after birth, and for as long as possible.

Caring for you and your baby after delivery:

Lakeside Women's Hospital, INTEGRIS Health encourages that mom and baby spend as much time together during their stay at Lakeside. This time can be important to breastfeeding and learning your baby’s cues. An important benefit that is offered to new mothers at Lakeside is a dedicated Well Baby Nursery. The Well Baby Nursery is a safe environment that is staffed with nurses to care for your baby 24 hours a day. The Well Baby Nursery allows baby to visit if mom needs time to rest in the event that extended recovery is needed. 

During your time at Lakeside our lactation consultant and breast feeding educators will be visiting with you to assist and guide you to successful breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides many benefits to both mom and baby. Our care and support does not stop upon discharge, but continues as long as you need. You can set up appointments with our consultants and educators in an outpatient setting.