When do you plan to do skin-to-skin with your newborn?

Question

I'm thinking I want my baby cleaned up a bit and checked over before skin-to-skin. I'm thinking it will be less gross for me, baby will be warmer not being so wet, and health of the baby is #1 priority for me so I want to be sure s/he gets checked first thing in case further care is needed. Just what im thinking right now but I know my opinion might change in the heat of the moment...I just want to be educated on pros and cons to each option. I've had trouble finding actual research on the matter so if you have studies or research articles for any method in particular, put them in the comments. And, please, please, PLEASE don't link a mommy blog, midwife blog, OB nurse/Dr blog, etc... I want actual research articles, not anecdotal evidence. TIA!

Answer

Our hospital has a kangaroo care policy. Studies have shown that the first hour is crucial in bonding. Immediate skin to skin allows baby to regulate body temperature and stay warm directly after birth as well as the will try to nurse in the first hour to hor and a half after birth. Baby can actually sense the nipple and wiggle to get to it. I love that our hospital does this. I get to bond, keep baby warm and in 1 hour them come in and weigh baby and check baby out. As long as there is no reason to require immediate attention such as a difficult birth or pregnancy then there is no reason to delay skin to skin. With my girls they were placed on my chest the nurses came over and started to dry them off with blankets and suck their noses and then they put new warm blankets from the warmer on them and let me have skin to skin while they did some computer work and got bracelets on started on the birth certificate so they could fill it out once he weight was taken !  Good thing to research is kangaroo care, your hospital policy (some don't allow immediate skin to skin) and also check out the benefits of rubbing in vernix instead of washing it off or wiping it off!!!

Answer

I held my daughter on my chest for the entire first hour after she was born.  Honestly, I always felt that I'd want her "cleaned up" too, but having her and holding her was the most amazing feeling and I didn't care one bit about any of the blood or other stuff that was totally cleaned off! She is now 18mo and growing like crazy - hold them as much as you can, clean or not!! ❤️

Answer

I did skin to skin immediately with my first born. It was the best moment of my life.

Answer

With my son, I had an emergency c-section and I vomited the whole time so I couldn't do skin to skin for almost three hours after he was born (I was unconscious). Did skin to skin after that. My milk came in no problem and he nursed just fine. Though I would have preferred immediate skin to skin.

Answer

I asked for my daughter to be cleaned up and checked before I held her. I think it's a personal preference. 
I personally didn't want to hold a baby covered in my gross bodily fluids. Haha. I am a bit of a germaphobe though. It was only a few minute wait. It gave me a chance to order my lunch and the doctor to finish up with me.
Just make sure you let them know what you want prior to giving birth. :)

Answer

I wanted immediate skin to skin with my son but I had to have an emergency c-section, and due to some complications that had to knock me out as soon as he came out. He was taken to my l&d; room and was weighed and measured. My husband said it was about 10 minutes from the time he saw our son to when I was wheeled back in. As soon as my bed was locked into position they gave him to me for skin to skin and he found my nipple and started nursing right away. While I'm hoping to not have a repeat c-section this time and do everything immediately, I wanted to share my story with you so you know that if you choose to delay contact for 5-10 minutes while they clean and do a preliminary assesment, both you and baby will be okay.

Answer

If it went my way for the first one I would have held him immediately. Well my whole birth plan was out the window. This one I'm hoping I get to.

When do you plan to do skin-to-skin with your newborn?

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