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

Original poster

skin to skin questions

inoutshakeitallabout · 2011-12-13T13:57:49+00:00

1) why is it so important? (or is it?) 2) if it doesnt happen, will it hinder bonding 3) can the dad do it also, ie kiddy comes out, baby on mum dad on cheek? daft questions probably ! :)

10 replies

inoutshakeitallabout · 13/12/2011 13:57

why is it so important? (or is it?)
if it doesnt happen, will it hinder bonding
can the dad do it also, ie kiddy comes out, baby on mum dad on cheek?

daft questions probably ! :)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Elsjas · 13/12/2011 14:07

I don't know the answers to your questions but can tell you abt my experience.

Dd1 was a ventouse delivery and so was whisked away to be worked on by the paediatrician straight after the birth. By the time I could hold her (only 5-10 mins later) she was all wrapped up and it was December so I didn't really think abt unwrapping her. We bonded quickly and she started breastfeeding with no problems.

Ds1 was flopped onto my chest, all warm, naked and squirmy after the birth. It was a lovely moment and I really enjoyed my first cuddle but I don't think that I bonded any more quickly with him or that he breastfed more effectively because of it.

Sorry that isn't really much help!

Original poster

inoutshakeitallabout · 13/12/2011 15:28

thats a big help :)

OP posts:

Secondtimelucky · 13/12/2011 15:39

Skin to skin is great, if the circumstances allow it. DD1 was an instrumental, so whisked for for checks. DD2 was a water birth and I cuddled her as soon as she came up for air! I bonded more quickly with DD2, but I think that was more to do with the first delivery being traumatic and being shell shocked than the skin to skin.

It also doesn't need to happen in the first few moments. Skin to skin is lovely for all tiny babies (and bigger ones!). Dads can do lovely skin to skin with newborns - strip off/ undo shirt, have baby naked or in just a nappy and snuggle up! That would be a lovely thing to do whilst you are being 'sorted out' afterwards if your partner is keen?

Is there a reason why you think it will be a problem?

bigpigeon · 13/12/2011 15:39

I didn't get to do skin to skin with DD and we struggled initially to bond. She did get it from her Dad - shirt off for three hours after birth, but then hated all form of cuddling until about 2yrs. Used to fight until we put her down. Coincidence or cause?? Don't know. She was my first born and birth was tough and I was unwell a while after so that could have had more to do with it. Second time around DS was an easy birth, got skin to skin and bf in first ten minutes and we bonded perfectly (perhaps a little too well - he seems to only require me even when Dad on hand). Could be boy-girl thing. Could be trauma of birth thing. Could just be different personalities or even me being better experienced at it all. It surely can't hurt, but if it is not possible there are other ways to bond later. Baby massage helped me with my DD later on. She loves her cuddles now and both fight for them.

Yuuule · 13/12/2011 15:42

I didn't like skin-to-skin. It wasn't suggested with my eldest. With the rest I didn't bother. It didn't affect bonding and it didn't affect bf-ing. I loved my cuddly wrapped up babies.

QTPie · 13/12/2011 17:28

This reply has been withdrawn

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

Dozeyland · 13/12/2011 21:04

I did skin-to-skin with our DD, and it was lovely, the most natural feeling for me and when i was being stitched, DP had his go and he loved it. it helps to regulate baby's temp and breathing too, plus its such a beautiful sight seeing your dp experiencing the closeness too.

will be doing the same with DC2, all being well of course. :)

Dozeyland · 13/12/2011 21:06

Also when they are close to your chest, they love the sound of your heartbeat, helps them to relax, our DD was a chilled-bean throughout the labour so she just relaxed on us! i suppose it reminded her of hearing my hearbeat from within

KateShmate · 13/12/2011 21:16

Skin-to-Skin/kangaroo care is encouraged in SCBU because it settles the babies so much..
All 5 of my DD's were premature and in SCBU for quite a while, but even early on I was encouraged to have my DD's on my chest. It was lovely to see how, before they came onto my chest, their heart beats/breathing would be irregular, but as soon as they were put onto my skin, everything was settled and they would be happy. With 2 of my DD's, when they were finally onto bottles, they wouldnt feed unless they were doing skin-to-skin.
Theres loads of research showing how good it is for babies.

Cinquefoil · 13/12/2011 21:24

I didn't get skin to skin straight off. I did when in recovery, about an hour after DS was born and we were left to figure things out together.

We are more bonded than I ever thought possible for people to be.

Really, the maternal bond to baby is not so fragile that it can fall apart just because of lack of skin to skin immediately after birth. :)

Flip