HUGS 7
Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
THE IMPORTANCE OF
HUGGING
Sponsored by:
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Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
The feeling of skin-to-skin contact with your newborn is unforgettable. After hours of labour, having Baby placed on your chest is quite a reward. However, aside from that overwhelming sensation of love that fills you, skin-to-skin (or kangaroo care) also provides many other benefits, from the physical to the psychological for both Baby and Mom.
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Physical benefits in the delivery room Being placed on Mom’s chest immediately after delivery can work wonders for Baby’s entry into the world. For example, skin-to-skin: • can help stabilize Baby’s heart rate • assists in regulating Baby’s breathing • can help to improve oxygen levels • improves vital signs • helps to maintain body temperature • maintains blood sugar levels Comfort in the delivery room According to studies, human touch reduces the level of stress hormones, leaving us more calm and relaxed (for Baby and Mom!). Healthy weight Dr. Christine Chambers says, “Skin-to-skin promotes greater physiological stability. Touch stimulates tactile nerve endings in the skin, which leads to a release of endorphins, oxytocin and serotonin, often referred to as ‘love hormones’, which produce pleasant sensations and feelings. Skin-to-skin also promotes better breastfeeding. So all of this works together to improve baby outcomes, including weight gain.”
Breastfeeding According to the International Breastfeeding Centre, a baby who has experienced an hour of skin-to-skin contact after birth is more likely to latch on to the breast and maintain that latch. Mom benefits Babies aren’t the only ones who benefit from a little skin-to-skin. According to La Leche League Canada, “Skin-to-skin will help Mom learn her baby’s cues. It will also increase the level of prolactin produced. Prolactin is a hormone responsible for helping the body to make milk.” Studies have shown that skin-to-skin can also reduce the risks of post-partum depression. Snuggling your newborn stimulates hormones that reinforce mothering behaviours. Bonding The first hour after delivery is often referred to as “The Golden Hour” and it is the best opportunity for Mom and Baby to create a special bond by experiencing skin-to-skin and forming a chemical connection between each other. More sleep, less crying! Isn’t this what we all want? Skin-to-skin contact everyday (in the weeks following delivery) will leave Mom with a quieter house!
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Take it from the Experts
Dr. Christine Chambers and Dr.Marsha Campbell-Yeo are experts when it comes to skin-to-skin contact. Here’s what they had to say. What was your role with the Huggies Hug Plan? Dr. Chambers: We were brought on by Huggies to review the science behind skin-to-skin touch for babies, immediately after birth and also in the periods following birth. Our role was to review the science and sum up the evidence for skin-to-skin contact and how it can best be implemented by mothers. Our job was to help Huggies by providing background and the science to base their hug plan on. So what were the findings? Dr. Campbell-Yeo: I think that with many things in life, the simplest things are the most beneficial and certainly this is the case for skin-to-skin contact, which is the upright holding of a diaper-clad baby on the bare chest of his or her mom, to allow for full ventral belly-to-chest contact. There are many benefits of skin-to-skin contact immediately following birth and also ongoing after, in the post-partum period. With the respect to physiological benefits, we know that with babies who are held skin-to-skin with their moms, their temperatures stabilize more quickly, better than if they’re wrapped in blanket or even if they’re put
under a warmer. We also know that their breathing and heart rate stabilize much faster after delivery. We know that breastfeeding is significantly more successful when moms and babies are able to be together using skin-to-skin contact immediately, or as soon as possible, after birth. What about skin-to-skin with other people besides Mom? Dr. Campbell-Yeo: The majority of the science has been conducted with Mom and Baby. We know there are some times that moms are not able to hold their babies immediately after birth, and research has shown that while contact with the mom is optimal, alternate care providers can also provide benefits, especially
with respect to things like temperature regulation. How about during sleep? Dr. Campbell-Yeo: Babies sleep better when they are held skin-to-skin than when they are bundled or left in a cot. Does hugging help in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NiCU)? Dr. Chambers: We often think about the NICU as being very high-tech and technologydriven and equipmentdriven, but science shows that starting with some of these more simple, costeffective, strategies like skinto-skin can really help both Mom and Baby. It isn’t just “a nice thing to do”, it’s very beneficial to the child and the whole family.
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Bonding with DAD
Moms often have more bonding opportunities, especially if they are breastfeeding. But there are plenty of opportunities for Dad to bond with Baby, too.
After a pretty strenuous labour and delivery, Dawn Salemi needed some recovery time before being able to hold her new little guy, Mathew Oliver. This is where Dad, Joe Salemi, stepped in. When Matthew was stable enough post-delivery, he was placed on Joe’s bare chest for some skin-to-skin contact while Mom recovered from her C-section. “Matthew was very agitated and fussy before hand,” says Joe. “Almost immediately after sitting down skin-to-skin, Matthew settled and slept for almost an hour. It was literally the most emotional I’ve ever been. I was feeling connected to him. I really do believe there are several benefits of skin-to-skin: bonding, soothing, therapeutic benefits, and likely a bunch more that didn’t occur to me.” Joe is one smart dad, because all of this is true. Skin-to-skin contact plays a big role in
bonding with Dad. Aside from that, there are other things Dad can do to strengthen the connection with his baby. • Vocal connection Dads can sing, talk and tell stories as soon as baby is born. Babies will come to know Mom and Dad’s voices as a source of comfort. • Eye contact Skin-to-skin holding is the perfect way to engage your baby’s eye contact because the distance is just right for your baby’s first few days. • Breastfeeding routine Dad can help make Mom by holding the baby after feeding if Mom needs to rest, shower or eat. • Diaper duty It’s not the most fun activity, but it provides some one-to-one time. • Cuddles Cuddle, hug, snuggle. HUGS Magazine 5
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No Baby Unhugged Huggies has launched an initiative to help moms understand the power of hugs.
Huggies believes in the power of human touch for all babies. There are so many benefits of hugging and touch that it’s time to take hugging seriously. This is what Huggies plans to do. When babies have longer stays in Neonatal Units (NICU), Mom can’t be there 24/7. She needs some rest and recovery time, too! So Huggies developed the No Baby
Unhugged initiative to help all babies get the hugs they need. They are now funding hugging programs in Canadian hospitals. This means that volunteers will spend time in the NICU holding babies when their parents aren’t able to be there. Baby Huggers spend time rocking, cuddling, singing and hugging newborns, sometimes for hours at a time, providing that needed touch and human contact.
How can Moms help? Moms can show their support for this program by becoming a No Baby Unhugged Mom. By signing up for Huggies rewards (at nobabyunhugged.ca), you receive a free pack of Huggies for your newborn. And when you share a hug photo with your little one, Huggies will donate $5 to the No Baby Unhugged initiative. What’s your hug plan? You’ve heard of a birth plan, right? It’s a list of how you envision your labour and birth to unfold. Well, now’s the time to make a Hug Plan. Be specific! Sit down and make your decisions. For example, when do you want to hug (before or after the cord is cut)? And how long do you want to provide skin-to-skin contact (one hour or more)? Fill out your Hug Plan (see next page), share it with your doctor or midwife, and pop a copy in your hospital bag.
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my Hug Plan This Hug Plan is designed to help you provide skin-to-skin hugs for your baby immediately after birth. It was developed by medical experts, together with Huggies. Huggies has always believed in the power of hugs. We hope this plan helps you ensure your baby receives hugs, according to your wishes.
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my Hug Plan
My full name is , and this is my plan to provide skin-to-skin hugs for my baby on the day I give birth, according to my wishes: MY HUGS
MY GOWN OR GARMENT
I want to be the first to hold my baby on my bare skin as soon as possible after birth and:
To help facilitate skin-to-skin hugging as soon as possible, I want to wear:
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Before the cord is cut and clamped After the cord is cut and clamped
I want to be the first to hold my baby on my bare skin as soon as possible after birth and:
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Before my baby is cleaned off with a towel After my baby is cleaned off with a towel
After my baby is diapered, I want to continue providing skin-to-skin hugs for the following length of time: 1-2 hrs (referred to as the “Golden Hours”) Until my baby’s first feeding Other
A skin-to-skin-friendly birthing gown which I have provided A “skin-to-skin tube top” which I have provided A standard hospital-issue gown, open to the front Other
HUGGING DURING ROUTINE PROCEDURES To ease my baby’s stress and pain during routine procedures, I want to give hugs 5-15 minutes prior.
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Yes
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No
HUGGING DURING A C-SECTION
If I require a C-section, I want: While being transferred to the postpartum ward, I want to continue providing skin-to-skin To give skin-to-skin hugs to my baby hugs if possible. following delivery or as soon as possible
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Yes
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No
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My designated alternate hugger to help me provide skin-to-skin hugs
MY DESIGNATED ALTERNATE HUGGER
I want the following person to be in the delivery HUGGING TWINS To provide skin-to-skin hugs for both my babies, room in order to help me provide skin-to-skin I want: hugs if necessary: Them placed on my chest at the same time My Partner ( FULL NAME ) One placed on my chest while my designated hugger gives skin-to-skin for the other Other ( FULL NAME )
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WHO SHOULD RECEIVE THIS HUG PLAN?
Once you have completed your Hug Plan, make 2 copies. (Download additional copies @ NoBabyUnhugged.ca) Discuss your Hug Plan with your doctor or midwife and provide a copy. Then take the second copy to the hospital the day you go into labour. When you check in with Labour & Delivery, speak with your primary nurse about your wishes. And give her the second copy, along with your Birth Plan if you have one.
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