After your baby is born, you may be given the option to hold your baby against your chest for skin-to-skin contact, depending on your condition and the baby’s health. The medical team will place a drape or sterile cloth over you and your baby, so it’s easier for you to hold them without any concern about the surgical site.
- Timing: If both you and your baby are stable, the team will typically place your baby on your chest within the first 30 minutes of birth.
- Positioning: You may be lying down or sitting up in bed, and your baby will be placed on your chest, making direct skin contact. Your healthcare team will help adjust your baby to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Monitoring: After the C-section, you’ll still be monitored closely, so it’s likely you’ll have extra support, ensuring that both you and your baby are doing well during this precious bonding time.
Benefits of Skin-to-Skin After a C-Section
Skin-to-skin after a C-section offers the same benefits as it would after a vaginal birth, and it’s incredibly valuable for both you and your baby. Some benefits include:
- Enhanced Bonding: Skin-to-skin helps foster that immediate emotional connection between you and your baby, which is essential for bonding and starting your parenting journey on a positive note.
- Regulation of Baby’s Temperature: Your body naturally helps regulate your baby’s temperature, which is especially important right after birth.
- Breastfeeding Encouragement: Skin-to-skin can encourage the natural breastfeeding instinct and help initiate breastfeeding more smoothly in the hours following birth.
- Reduced Stress: Holding your baby against your chest provides reassurance and reduces anxiety for both you and your newborn, which can have a calming effect and aid in recovery.
What If You Can’t Have Immediate Skin-to-Skin?
In some rare cases, immediate skin-to-skin may not be possible, particularly if either you or your baby needs additional medical attention straight after the birth. However, you can still have skin-to-skin as soon as you’re able, which may be within hours of your surgery, depending on your recovery progress.
In the meantime, your baby may be held by your birth partner or another family member until you’re ready. You can also plan to make up for the missed time with plenty of cuddles and skin-to-skin once you’re in a more stable condition.
At Window to the Womb, we’re here to support you in your birth journey. Whether you’re having a C-section or a vaginal birth, we offer private scans throughout your pregnancy to help you feel reassured and connected to your baby.If you’d like to learn more or book a scan to check on your baby’s development, visit www.windowtothewomb.co.uk.
