Week 1:

Skin-to-Skin Contact

Which of the following is true regarding skin-to-skin contact for all vigorous

newborns?

Question

Should be within the first 30 minutes of delivery.

Should be immediate and uninterrupted.

Should be after a full head-to-toe assessment has been performed

on the newborn.

Should be within the first hour after delivery.

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Skin-to-skin should be immediate and uninterrupted. If you are a labor nurse or a mother-baby nurse, when was the last time you encouraged your mom to put her baby skin-to-skin? If you are an antepartum or triage nurse, when was the last time you educated your patient on the benefits of skin-to-skin immediately after delivery?

Labor nurses: click HERE to answer a quick 2 question survey about barriers preventing you from encouraging moms to utilize skin-to-skin.

What is NOT a benefit of skin-to-skin contact?

Question

Thermoregulation

Improvement of newborn’s oxygen saturation levels

Stabilization of newborn’s heart and respiratory rate

Promotion of self attachment

Increase in I.Q. Decrease of maternal depression

Mother’s are more likely to breastfeed sooner and breastfeed

longerIncrease in mother’s milk supply

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Just a reminder:

• Evidence shows that while skin-to-skin, the infant’s heart rate, breathing,

temperature and blood glucose stabilize.

• Placing a baby skin-to-skin is a good way to help wake up a sleepy baby…it’s like

being next to a bakery : )

• A Cochrane review revealed that placing a baby skin-to-skin immediately or as soon

as possible after birth were twice as likely to still be breastfeeding at one to three

months than those who did not practice skin-to-skin.

Next week: What you need to know about hand-expression.

Don’t forget:

You’re some baby’s superhero!

Inspiration :)

Breast Crawl – 6 minute video

Breast Crawl – 4 minute video

When placed on the mother's abdomen soon after birth, newborns have the ability to find its mother's breast all on its own and to decide when to take the first breastfeed. This is called the 'Breast Crawl'.

Thank you for your time.