Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Skin to Skin After Birth

27 replies

figgygal · 10/11/2011 12:54

Ridiculous question here i know but do you have to do this and if you do is the baby still attached to the placenta by the cord?

Im finding myself quite squeamish about the idea and would much prefer they take him away for a little clean and then give him to me. I cannot imagine you have the baby on your chest and the cord is trailing down to the placenta but never heard it specifically referred to.

I know there are said to be some benefits in terms of reducing stress and heartbeat but is this a relatively new phenomenon and so current best practice but not a necessity? I hadnt heard about it really until got pregnant and wonder if babies were being born for centuries without this being common practice as i am really not keen.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GingerbreadLatte · 10/11/2011 13:01

If you are on a bed on your back they will typically put baby straight on you with placenta etc still inside.

Im sure you can request a cleaned baby first. Put in your birth plan and get your birth partner to support that.

I really do think though that after labour, you wont give a figs about a slight bloody baby on your chest :D You will be overjoyed!

Comeonbear · 10/11/2011 13:02

Yes, your baby would be attached to the cord still until you've delivered the placenta (took me 15mins after DD arrive). And of course you don't have to do anything you don't want to do and if you decide against it just make sure its in your birth plan / that you discuss it with your mw. But, you might feel very differently come the time. I was like you before giving birth, felt a bit yukky about the whole cord / placenta thing but in the moment I hardly gave it a second thought, all I wanted was to hold my baby and the sooner I could do that the better. I didn't even think about the blood and gunk and stuff and actually loved the iron-y smell of my new DDs head nestling on my chest. I guess that's what hormones are for, once they kick in everything feels different - and amazing!

Iggly · 10/11/2011 13:09

Well I don't think it's a new thing - more that they've done research into it.

Honestly - once DS was born, he was straight on me. You don't even clock the mess as you're on a massive high. My first thought on meeting DS was "a baby!" and his cry sounded like the most amazing ever. I remember someone taking him after a while and my eyes never left him. You might get an urge that you want to hold baby there and then so I wouldn't be too specific. Perhaps ask for a blanket or something to be to hand.

I didn't see my placenta, vaguely remember the cord but that's it. I just remember DS

ihearthuckabees · 10/11/2011 13:17

The others are probably right in saying you won't give two hoots when it comes to it, but I just wanted to add that you shouldn't worry too much if you don't have skin to skin contact straight away. Don't feel guilty in other words. Yes, people say it's a good thing, but not doing it doesn't necessarily the end of the world.

I know it's only anecdotal, but my DS was delivered by emergency CS, with complications (very difficult delivery), and I didn't hold him until 6 hours later, and didn't feed him til about 15 hours later, but he was the most cuddly baby, very bonded to me, a great breast feeder, and so on.

Agree with the other posters - do it the way you want to.

LoveBeingAFirework · 10/11/2011 13:45

Why not get the mw to ask before she gives you the baby? I would say go with how you feel at the time.

I've always been a bit yucky about stuff but really all I thought was it's a baby

NotJustKangaskhan · 10/11/2011 14:40

Skin-to-skin straight away will be the 'traditional'/'natural' way of doing things, it's nothing new just turned out to be best practice when researched, but it's not essential and you can have skin to skin after baby is cleaned up as well.

I've had it done both ways (them cutting the cord and taking baby away and baby given to me straight away without cutting), it's likely down to midwife preference unless there is a reason for cutting the cord quickly or you give a preference.

I will say (my anecdotal) the given to me straight away without cutting was nicer for me (I got panicy when they took baby away, always out of sight so I worried something needed to be wrong for them to do that - neither had anything wrong that couldn't be handled there, but midwife preference was to do everything away from sight) and my placenta came away a lot easier and quicker when I could hold and nurse straight away with the cord still attached than when it was cut straight.

Original poster

figgygal · 10/11/2011 15:29

Thanks ladies it was just one of those things i was thinking about as am going to finalise birth plan this week and i just wanted some more views on it.

OP posts:

Pozzled · 10/11/2011 15:48

Agree with the others- it's completely up to you and if you'd prefer the cord cut and the baby cleaned up first, just ask. But at the same time be flexible, you may change your mind on the day. With both my DDs they were delivered straight onto my tummy, and I was just desperate to hold them. I wouldn't have wanted to wait one second longer than necessary!

QTPie · 10/11/2011 17:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 10/11/2011 18:26

I asked for my baby to be wiped over and wrapped in a blanket both times. It was met with less than enthusiasm tbh, as though i was commiting a mortal sin! I was clothed during the labour so it wouldnt have been skin to skin anyway. I have never regreted the decision and will be making the same one for this one cooking :)

ZuleikaJambiere · 10/11/2011 18:46

I thought i wouldn't give a fig about goo after the effort of labour so put immediate skin to skin in my plan. Unlike most of the others I took one look at my slimey baby - and asked for her to be cleaned! I think it only took seconds to wipe her and get a cuddle and the MW didn't question it. Do what feels right at the time

1944girl · 11/11/2011 01:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tangle · 11/11/2011 11:49

No, you don't have to do skin to skin and no the baby doesn't still have to be attached to the cord - the two are independent things (unless you have a very short cord, which might make it impossible to do skin to skin unless either the placenta is out or the cord is cut, or you want the baby to have a full on bath).

You can also have skin to skin once the baby has had a quick rub down, which gets the worst of the gunk off - with the cord either cut or still attached.

There are thought to be benefits to the baby of leaving the cord attached until its (at least) stopped pulsating that you might want to look into before deciding for definite what you want to happen.

Ultimately its all your choice - and there's nothing stopping your writing it as "I think that this is what I'll want, but please ask me before you actually do it in case I've changed my mind", just to keep your options a bit open :)

MaMattoo · 11/11/2011 11:53

The answer to your question is no. It does not make a difference. Had an em c sec and I was clothed and baby was cleaned and wrapped and brought to me. No soon to skin for a whole day atleast if that. The bonding...is instant and lasts a lifetime! Worry not!

Animol · 12/11/2011 12:16

With Ds1 we were both not terribly well straight after ( long story both fine now :) ) and I don't think I got to hold him for a couple of hours

With DD they wrapped her in a blanket and maybe weighed and measured her and then gave her to me

then we moved house so went to a different hospital

so then came DS2 - during labour things looked a bit ropey and we were rushed to theatre for an emcs but then the consultant changed his mind and 10 mins later out came ds2 and they put him straight on my chest and it was the most amazing thing in the world and I wondered why they hadn't done it with DD at the other hospital - with DS1 I know it wasn't possible

I made sure it was in my birth plan for ds3 and when I talked to the midwife she said fine and told me that lots of people don't want skin to skin straight away sometimes for cultural reasons. I loved it though and I'd always do it again if possible - especially lovely that both the little DSs latched on immediately.

At the end of the day you must decide for yourself though and go with what feels right for you

Thumbwitch · 12/11/2011 12:33

It was one of only 3 things I put in my birth plan, that I wanted DS to be cleaned up before I was given him. As it turned out, I was on my own with DH until the last push for him to be born, 2 ninja MWs came in VERY quickly and delivered him just in time and he was whipped off, cord cut, cleaned and weighed in no time. Didn't even ask me, they just did it - I doubt they'd had time to check my notes (although not certain about that, I was pretty out of it!)

Once I did get hold of him though, very quickly after being cleaned, weighed and wrapped in a blanket, I didn't let go of him again! I am also very squeamish and worried that I might have recoiled a little from being handed a goo-covered baby - still think I would have, tbh! But the bonding was instant - I might have given him up to be held by my sister and MIL when they came in about an hour later, but not for long :)

Thumbwitch · 12/11/2011 12:34

Oh yes, and I had a nightie on throughout labour too, so would have had to remove that to do skin to skin. Which I would have objected to.

Animol · 12/11/2011 20:50

I wore DHs pyjamas for exactly that reason - when I knew DS3 was coming I told DH it was time to undo the buttons and help me out of them so I could have that amazing first cuddle - each to his own I guess!!!

Withwoman · 14/11/2011 15:53

You have choice. Its up to you what happens, its your birth. Try not to lose sight of that.

If you want you baby wiped, first then say so. And more importantly get your birth partner to remind the midwife at the appropriate moment. We don't wash babies these days as they get too cold.

sprinkles77 · 14/11/2011 16:26

QT I had an identical experience. Were you at the Whittington?!

OP, you don't have to do anything. I wanted DS cleaned up, and he was. EMCS so I had him under my gown while I was put back together. It really was the most wonderful end to a difficult few days. And would have been no less so if he's been covered in gunk!

Withwoman · 14/11/2011 17:00

I have to say that there is something to be said for gunk. It is your gunk, the babies gunk. It smells of you both and subconsciously will help you bond.

Vernix is really good for the baby's skin and sinks in really quickly giving it a protective layer.

TerrysNo2 · 14/11/2011 19:13

I would be surprised if you care by that stage, you will even be kissing and smelling the top of its head knowing full well where its been!

For both my births - one hospital and one home they gave the DCs a rub down with a towel before handing them to me, I think they do the apgar test at the same time.

I am a real prude and hate nudity but as soon as DD was born last week I found my birthing shirt so restrictive I threw it off and sat there naked in front of the MWs - its amazing what becomes important and what doesn't during the birthing process.

Good luck with it all

NinthWave · 14/11/2011 19:21

I wanted to have skin-to-skin immediately but DS1 had shoulder dystocia and was born flat, so had to be resuscitated before I got to hold him. DS2 had a nuchal cord and needed some oxygen, so didn't get skin-to-skin immediately with him either, I was nagging the doctors to just hand him over

EverybodysScaryEyed · 14/11/2011 19:36

Well with DS they asked if I wanted to hold him straight away and I asked if they would clean him first. They did a quick clean and I cuddled him while delivering the placenta

with DD i had a fast birth and they thrust her onto me. I was in too much shock at that time to really know i was holding a baby and DH took her because he could see I wasn't all there!!

The gunk didn't bother me and they didn't clean the vernix off really - just the other gunk!

And I have 2 very well bonded babies and breastfeeding was fine from the start.

Best that you feel comfortable and just see how you feel at the time

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 15/11/2011 11:21

another anecdotal one cos of a quick labour here - I wanted skin to skin but went into shock, he was passed to me but quickly taken away and given to DH (cord cut) as I was shaking and pale. I was so shocked that MW wonderfully got me showered, cleaned, into pj's etc and calm before I was given DS back again (homebirth)...and thank god, when he was passed to me I was on my knees and held him like a ming vase!!

Hoping to be a bit more with it this time but was so grateful not to have felt pressured into giving him big old cuddles when I obviously wasn't particularly compus mentus.....BF was fine, we are close as anything

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread