Skin to skin - the gift that keeps on giving

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC), often referred to as "kangaroo care," is a foundational practice for breastfeeding success. It involves placing your naked newborn baby directly on mum’s bare chest immediately after birth, a period often called the "Golden Hour”.

SSC triggers the release of oxytocin in both mother and baby. In mothers, this hormone is essential for the "let-down" reflex, which moves milk into the ducts for the baby to feed. It also increases prolactin levels, the hormone responsible for milk production.

Skin to skin also helps to regulate your baby - their temperature, heart rate, breathing, even their blood sugar whilst stimulating an interest in feeding and aiding digestion, helping their immature gut. This regulation also helps to conserve their energy so that these precious reserves are used learning to feed instead. It also kick starts the colonisation of your friendly bacteria, boosting their immune system and protecting them against infection.

Babies are born with innate feeding instincts that are heightened during SSC. They go through nine instinctive stages, including the "breast crawl," where they use smell and touch to navigate to the nipple and self-attach. This self-attachment often leads to a deeper, more effective latch, reducing the risk of nipple pain for the mother. Even in cases of cesarean birth, immediate or early SSC has been shown to decrease the time to the first feed by over 50 minutes.

Clinical evidence from 2025 backs up the benefits of SCC in terms of breastfeeding duration, exclusivity and milk supply:

• Duration: Infants who experience at least 45 minutes of immediate SSC are likely to breastfeed for approximately 1.5 months longer than those who do not.

• Exclusivity: Mothers who practice early SSC are more likely to breastfeed exclusively at hospital discharge and continue doing so for up to six months.

• Supply: Ongoing SSC at home can help boost milk supply by continuously stimulating hormonal pathways.

It also has mental health benefits for mums, reducing stress and lowering the risk of postpartum depression, fostering a calmer environment that supports the breastfeeding relationship.

The benefits continue beyond these first few hours. Skin to skin contact will always help to calm and soothe your baby and significantly boosts milk supply in the first week of their life.