Skin to skin

[Jill72]

I have been obsessively watching birth programmes on sky - everyone emphasizes how important skin on skin is and I really want to do this but in many births on the TV the baby often seems to get whipped off pretty quickly - I know it's TV and you don't get the full picture - what happens in reality ladies??? Assuming there are no worries how long can you have baby with you before someone wants to 'whip' him off???

I've had two sections so can't comment on vaginal deliveries and skin to skin post birth. With my first I forgot to ask and was handed a clean dressed baby Eastenders stylee :o I didn't think about skin to skin until about two weeks later when I gave him his first bath and snuggled him against me (I was wearing a vest on top) and boy his skin felt great! With my second I made sure I asked but the mw was reluctant to let me have dd straight away. She was taken away and weighed etc, but she did hand her back to me naked apart from a nappy after a couple of mins.

I managed to bf both for a year but not sure if the skin to skin made as much difference as just knowing much more second time round did.

I've noticed that in America they always take the baby away to clear the nose/throat and do checks on the baby before passing it to Mum all wrapped up.

Obviously if baby needs to have things done to it to get it breathing etc then I would be all for whipping the baby away, but generally the baby can clear its airway itself when it cries.

I had both my children delivered and lifted straight onto my tummy. In fact, it was such a special moment with my first that I wrote it into my birth plan with my second.

I had a section with my first, but this is one of the reasons I want a vbac!

My DS was delivered onto my stomach gunk and all. The midwife put a towel over the top of us and we stayed like that, skin to skin, for the first hour of his life. Then DH had his shirt off for the next hour and had skin to skin while I had a much needed bath. For all of us it was a very special, precious time.

Tell your MW that?s what you want if at all possible and they will do it. Put it into your birth plan. If your baby needs a bit of oxygen or a rub when their born there?s no reason not to do it later. DS had lots of Sunday mornings in bed with DH and I tucked inside one of our dressing gowns! I think that skin to skin helps with the transition from being inside for 9 months to the outside world.

I had an EMCS and DD was taken away for checks before being handed back to my DH all wrapped up in a blanket with a wee hat on and a nappy. I didn't get to hold her until I was in the recovery room after being stitched up. I didn't ask about skin-to-skin because the surgeon said this was what would happen, and I didn't question it. I've read different experiences post CS on Mumsnet, and it seems that different hospitals have different policies on it (hygiene issues??). I would love to have skin-to-skin post birth next time.

Also, a midwife told me that it plays an important role in getting BFing established as it releases some nice hormones and chemicals in you. Apparently. And it's a lovely to connect. So, it's good to do skin-to-skin as soon as is possible.

had both ds skin to skin and it was great. only for a little time before they got wrapped up with a nappy on

I had a forceps delivery and dd was put straight onto me, can't remember how long for (to be honest I didn't really care, I just felt weird :( ) but once she was in SCBU, where she stayed for 9 days, no one even mentioned skin to skin, which I am very sad about. Once we were in the 'rooming in' room I got a proper cuddle, but then got told off because it tired her out too much. I am now better informed and if when I have DC2 I will ensure I get the skin to skin we both need

Didn't manage skin to skin myself as badly torn - husband did it instead. Lovely midwives helped him when they saw him struggling to take his top off while holding a newborn. Maybe worth including in your birth plan in case you can't do it yourself?

I think the emphasis is on starting skin-to-skin within 30 mins (or an hour? I'm sure goole will tell you popular opinion), which should be possible in nearly all circumstances, I imagine.

I had skin to skin immediately (I don't remember, DH and the bloodstain on my t-shirt tell me that I did!) before DD was whisked away as I was carted off to theatre for stitches and placenta removal. Lovely, lovely MW put DD back on me for BF as soon as I was in recovery though, although this was after she helped DH dress her!

OP, stick it in your birthplan and make sure your MW knows this is your wish. DD was put straight onto me (and did a wee straight away!) and she was still covered in vernix and blood but it was wonderful....... if you can don't miss out on it! I held her while I was being stitched up and having tea and toast with DH and she was eventually taken to be bathed and dressed.

If for any reason you don't get to have skin to skin straight away, remember you can do it any time you like later on. I didn't get to do it as needed surgery and it preyed on my mind until it occurred to me 6 weeks later that it was never too late. I used to do it post nappy change in the morning while I BF.

With dd1 I had skin to skin instantly after a natural birth. I was told I could continue while I was stitched but I needed gas and air for that part (mostly due to my squeemishness rather than pain) and didn't feel confident holding dd, so dh held her. Actually it was nice for him and I had held her for quite a while, called family with her in my arms etc. Then, when stitches were done, mw gave me a cup of tea (I think she gave me one before but it went cold as I forgot about it) and mw and dh dressed dd. It was lovely for dh to get a bit of support as he was very nervous as he'd never held a newborn before.

This pg, I'm having twins and a cs. I have been assured that the hospital is keen on skin to skin (unless babies need special care) and they will help me bf in recovery room (which I want to do). They told me this without me asking but I will make sure it's in my birth plan and dh knows anyway.

When DS was born after almost 3 hours pushing he was dropped briefly onto my tummy before being whisked away for some oxygen as the midwife and consultant knew it was what I had wanted and they obliged even if it was only for a couple of seconds! Once his colour and breathing settled (very quickly thank god) he was dressed and passed back to me and dh. We were then left on our own with him for over an hour so although not skin to skin, we were still given time alone with him which was very precious.

With DD, who was a homebirth, as soon as she was born she was placed onto my chest and the midwife draped a towel over us and popped a hat on her head and left us to it. I can't remember how long for but in that time the placenta was delivered and the midwives finished writing up their notes!

I think as long as you inform your midwife that this is what you want and there are no complications, they should be happy to oblige. Sometimes they feel the need to weigh and measure pretty quickly but there is no reason at all this needs to be done straight away and if you want longer with your new baby don't be too shy to say so x

A slightly different question, hope you don't mind Jill72..

I've been writing my birthplan and was wondering whether they can wash the baby first before putting him on me and can we still have skin to skin contact? lindy100 You mentioned that skin-to-skin should be started within 30 minutes so I thought this could be ok.. I actually tried googling it, but couldn't really find anything, perhaps I was typing in wrong search words...

I had a straight forward birth and got skin to skin for 2 hours while she fed, led there. They handed me her and then put a towel over us, she may have been weighed etc for a minute during this time but I can't remember it. It really helped me bfeed

I had about an hour skin to skin after forceps delivery. First feed etc before they wanted to clean me up! The best time of my life, will never forget it.

Marabou and others.
Skin to skin is important immediately after birth. It regulates babies breathing and temperature and helps with bonding and attachment.
re washing. Yes, skin to skin can happen after a baby is washed, but it is not recommended to wash a newborn straight away. They have vernix on the skin to protect and moisturise it. Washing can disturb the skins balance (especially if any soap based products are used) and if your baby is susceptible to eczema, can trigger a reaction.
Also the amniotic fluid present on the skin can promote bonding and attachment and early bf (if thats what yoyu are planning on doing) and there is research to shopw that babies that bf in the first hour after birth are much more likely to continue successfully.
I know it can sound yucky that the baby is wet and sticky but it is a lovely feeling straight after they are born and you are unlikely to worry about any mess.
You could consider having your baby in a pool, they tend to come out looking more clean as they are born in the water.
Unless your baby needs assistance breathing they should be left undisturbed with you for the first hour at least, weighing, washing, Vitamin K etc can wait!
Skin to skin can and should be an on-going thing. So even if you're baby is washed and/or dressed you can undress them and yourself and put them back onto you.
This can be continued as often as you like in the following days/weeks and sometimes having a bath with your baby is a good way to get a relectant bf latched on!
Selina

DD wasn't taken to be weighed etc for quite a while, when it was clear she wasn't going to go straight to boob.

(She did feed very well, btw, it was just a good while - 12hrs iirc - before she was interested.)

Hello Selina and many thanks for your reply! I think it was just that I generally get a bit uncomfortable seeing blood and was thinking that perhaps it might make it easier to have the baby cleaned first.. But it will all probably feel very different when he's actually out and the moment will make me forget about such things. I'm not planning on a water birth, as I suffer from severe SPD so I concluded that getting in and out of the pool might be difficult, but I do plan to breastfeed, so I guess it's going to be best to request the MW to lift him on me straight away..

Thanks for all your stories - I am feeling much more reassured - will make sure I write this into my birth plan :)

Selina, lovely reply- I plan to have a waterbirth- won't the water wash off all the beneficial vernix?

it's your birth, you decide how much skin to skin contact you have with your own child.

Good question TheNewShmoo. Vernix naturally decreases/is absorbed into the skin at around term, so some babies dont have much visible evidence of vernix (white and waxk/oily substance on skin) others have lots. I don't think it is water soluble so unless baby is rubbed vigerously with towels, lots should stay on the skin and can be rubbed into the skin fter birth to prevent flaking etc
Vernix has been shown to be an effective cleanser, anti-infective agent, anti-oxidant and a wound healer, so important stuff.
There is a good discussion on this site about smells/bf and waterbirth. Lots of comments, having read them it appears waterbirth is unlikely to interfere with smells neccessary for bonding/bf.
www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2010/09/waterbirths-hidden-cause-of.html