The Power of Skin-to-Skin
If you think about it, discussing direct skin-to-skin contact between a baby and their mother is quite bizarre, considering that for tens of thousands of years in human history, this was simply the norm. However, in the twentieth century, we reached a point where we were made to believe— and we believed— that a newborn baby was better off under a heating lamp, with the nurses in the maternity ward, rather than in their mother’s arms.
In the 1970s, a few pioneering pediatricians in the U.S. questioned this practice and conducted research proving the opposite: a baby belongs in their mother's arms immediately after birth*. Unequivocally and indisputably.
Over the past fifty years, entire libraries could be filled with studies on the importance of mother-baby skin contact after birth. Yet, even in 2025, you might still hear that it’s "better for the baby" or "better for you" if they are taken away shortly after birth, or that babies shouldn't be spoiled too much. So, with this post, I am joining those who believe that the more direct skin-to-skin contact, the better! Naturally, I will also explain why— and I suspect there might be some interesting surprises along the way!
What is Skin-to-Skin Contact?
Before we explore the benefits, let's clarify what I mean by skin-to-skin contact. It is not simply hugging your fully clothed baby while you are also dressed. Of course, that is wonderful, but it’s not what we’re discussing here. Nor is it about holding your newborn for a minute or two after birth, only to have them returned to you dressed for the "golden hour."
This post is about real, direct skin-to-skin contact— where your upper body is bare, and your baby is also naked (except for a diaper and possibly a hat), and you are both covered together.
The Benefits of Direct Skin-to-Skin Contact for the Baby
Let's start by looking at what happens to a baby during birth.
During the pushing stage, contractions temporarily reduce the oxygen supply to the baby, causing their heart rate to drop— a state of physiological stress. But don't think of this stress as a bad thing! It is a natural process (positive stress) that triggers the breakdown of brown fat, providing the energy needed to maintain the baby’s body temperature.
While in the womb, you provide everything for your baby: oxygen, nutrients, energy— and you regulate their temperature. After birth, however, the baby suddenly faces a huge challenge: they must breathe on their own and regulate their body temperature, which requires a significant amount of energy.
This energy comes from the breakdown of brown fat and glucose molecules in the blood. However, this also means that the baby’s blood sugar level drops.
But nature has a brilliant solution for this— your body! After birth, your chest and abdomen warm up locally, acting like a natural heating pad, helping to stabilize your baby’s temperature and, in turn, their blood sugar levels. However, this can only happen if you are in direct skin-to-skin contact! This means that skin-to-skin contact actively supports your baby’s adaptation after birth.
And this applies to healthy, full-term babies— imagine how much more crucial it is for premature or medically fragile infants!
Skin-to-Skin Contact as Therapy for Premature Babies
This amazing phenomenon doesn't just happen immediately after birth— it continues beyond. In fact, not only does your body warm up when in contact with your baby, but so does your partner’s, other family members’, or any adult’s. Some sources suggest that the temperature increase can be as much as two degrees Celsius!
If your baby is born via C-section, this is another strong reason to advocate for immediate skin-to-skin contact. If you’re unable to hold your baby right away, then at least ensure they have uninterrupted skin contact with their father.
Let’s take a trip to Bogotá, Colombia. In the 1970s, a large hospital in Bogotá had an overwhelming number of premature babies but not enough incubators. In desperation, doctors instructed mothers to hold their tiny premature babies directly against their bare chests to keep them warm.
The results surprised everyone— the survival rate and overall health of the babies who had skin-to-skin contact with their mothers were significantly better than those placed in incubators!
The Bogotá doctors named this method Kangaroo Mother Care, which has since been incorporated into the World Health Organization's premature baby care protocol**. According to WHO, kangaroo care is a safe and effective alternative to traditional neonatal care and is recommended as a primary therapy for newborns weighing 2000g or less, as soon as their condition stabilizes.
For premature babies, skin-to-skin contact is not just a nice extra— it is essential therapy!
More Benefits for Full-Term Babies
For full-term, healthy babies, one of the biggest advantages of skin-to-skin contact is its role in stabilizing blood sugar levels by regulating body temperature.
Another key benefit is in shaping the baby's microbiome— the collection of microorganisms that live in and on their body.
The microbiome has been increasingly studied, and research shows that it plays a vital role in digestion, immune system function, and even in preventing allergies, autoimmune diseases, and chronic illnesses.
Babies are nearly sterile at birth. Their first major exposure to microbes happens as they pass through the birth canal. The second important step in colonization is direct skin-to-skin contact with the mother. The third is breastfeeding.
The development of the microbiome is a long process, continuing until around one to two years of age. This is why skin-to-skin contact shouldn’t be limited to just the golden hour— cuddle your baby as often as possible!
More Sleep, Less Stress, Better Growth
Babies who have frequent skin-to-skin contact:
Breastfeed more often and more effectively
Gain weight better
Are calmer and sleep more
Hearing familiar sounds from the womb— like your heartbeat and digestive noises— soothes the baby, reducing stress hormones and improving digestion. This helps babies absorb more nutrients from their food and grow better.
Studies have also shown that babies who have more skin-to-skin contact experience less pain during medical procedures like blood tests.
A 2017 study found that newborns who had frequent skin-to-skin contact cried less and showed less distress during blood draws and other medical interventions.***
Long-term research also suggests benefits extending years later. A 2021 study followed children until age nine and found that babies who had early and frequent skin-to-skin contact:
Were breastfed longer
Had more responsive mothers
Showed better emotional regulation at age nine****
Additionally, mothers who had frequent skin-to-skin contact had lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and a reduced risk of postpartum depression.
Skin-to-Skin Contact: A Gift for You and Your Baby
Aside from all the physiological benefits, let’s not forget the emotional joy of holding your baby skin-to-skin. It is an incredible feeling that no medical device can replicate.
So, my closing advice: allow yourself this “luxury” as often as possible— because it’s not a luxury at all, but a necessity with clear, tangible benefits for both your baby and your entire family!
Wishing you a wonderful journey into motherhood— and many beautiful snuggles with your baby!
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* Klaus M.H., Jerauld R., Kreger N., McAlpine W., Steffa M., Kennell J.H.; Maternal attachment: Importance of the first postpartum days (New England Journal of Medicine, 286 (1972), pp. 460-463)
** World Health Organization: Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low-birth-weight infants (Intervention | Last updated: 9 August 2023)
***Celeste JohnstonMarsha Campbell‐YeoTimothy DisherBritney BenoitAnanda FernandesDavid StreinerDarlene InglisRebekah Zee:Skin‐to‐skin care for procedural pain in neonates
**** Ann E.Bigelow, Michelle Power: Mother-Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact: Short- and Long-Term Effects for Mothers and Their Children Born Full-Term
