Skin to Skin/ Kangaroo Care at Birth
McAllen Birth Services
World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, 2019. This week on my social media pages, I have chosen to focus on highlighting breastfeeding mothers all over the Rio Grande Valley. I’m a firm believer that normalizing breastfeeding is soooooo important.
How can we normalize breastfeeding? Imagery being shared with friends and family helps. It opens up dialogue on the subject to break up myths that still plague some of our families. Share your experiences, or personal photos and have a conversation with your loved ones (including your kids!)
Today I wanted to focus on the importance of skin to skin time immediately postpartum. I have a FREE PRINTABLE at the end of this post for you too!
Most times, when baby is born, he or she can be placed on your chest moments after being born. In fact, The WHO recommends early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and infants. Mothers should be supported to initiate breastfeeding as soon as the first hour after delivery according to their website and recommendations. You can read the full set of recommendations here.
How can you make sure you’ll be respected when you request immediate skin to skin with your newborn? There are some steps you can take.
First, you can hire a doula to help you navigate your birth preferences and to support you at your birth or postpartum.
Second, ask questions. Ask your provider if immediate skin to skin is something they promote. Ask your birth facility if the facility itself sets these practices into motion when a baby is born. Ask ask ask.
Your birth team matters and if your provider is not supportive of your preferences, maybe it’s time to look into switching. It’s not too late to switch it up to get the birth you hope for.
Finally, I want to say that skin to skin not only helps you as you establish your breastfeeding relationship with your little one. There are many more benefits that you can read about here.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Here’s the free printable I promised you.
Have questions? Reach out to me anytime. I’d be happy to help you or point you in the direction of someone who can assist you if I can’t.
~Norma H
Planning on requesting skin to skin after your birth? Here’s a FREE Printable for you! Click the image to download.