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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Skin to skin. Yes or NO

77 replies

Naz2009 · 26/11/2021 01:57

Hi mums, what's your opinion in regards to skin to skin right after birth.
Should I have skin to skin right away once baby is born.
What if I chose not to do this right away will it be bad for baby?
There is a lot of positive for both baby and I on doing skin to skin right away. I've been reading online. But I want to know from mums, their first hand experience.

OP posts:
Tobchette · 26/11/2021 07:27

As soon as baby's head was out (after ventouse) my husband ripped off his shirt and was standing there like they were going to hand him the baby lol. They put her on my chest and she was sticky and I was in so much shock it didn't interest me much. Then I had some after birth complications and my dh took her and did all the skin to skin of his dreams.
It was only later, when Placenta was delivered and I had been sewn up, that I really felt that wow moment where everything rushed to me while we were doing skin to skin.

DDUW · 26/11/2021 07:30

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hotmeatymilk · 26/11/2021 07:30

Skin to skin is utterly lovely; like nothing else. It doesn’t have to be right away, though – I had an emergency C-section so had it later. But we continued skin to skin as often as possible at home for months. It soothed her. She still likes it now she’s 2.5 but it’s a lot more wriggly now and involves hands in my armpits and feet kicking me Hmm

SomethingBeginningWithX · 26/11/2021 08:16

I had 3 c sections and chose not to have skin to skin at any of them. I didn't feel well enough at the first one (emergency) and didn't hold my son for hours after the birth, it didn't make a difference to bonding longer term. I chose not to at the following two sections which were planned. I don't really see how it's possible if you're quite small - the surgical sheet came almost right to my chin - there wasn't much skin available! My DH cut the cord and held the babies until I felt ready to each time.

I think if you can, and want to, it's absolutely great and lovely. If you can't or don't want to at the birth, you can do it whenever you feel ready.

mrssunshinexxx · 27/11/2021 00:53

Can't think of a reason why you wouldn't regardless of if you want to BF but especially helpful for that

SpringheelJack · 28/11/2021 09:28

Everyone else has already said everything sensible there is to say. There are absolutely no negative consequences of doing it. But millions of mum's don't, to no significant adverse effect. I didn't get the chance with either of mine, but we bonded and breastfed with ease. Aim to do it, but if it doesn't happen for any reason don't sweat it. There's a reason they suggest it - but it's really not a big deal if it doesn't happen.

ComeAllYeFaithful · 28/11/2021 09:36

I couldn’t with my first - crash c section. The delay in feeding her meant she was sleepy due to low blood sugar and the midwife had to manually express from me and syringe feed before she could latch.

Planned cs with my second and had delayed skin to skin again because I didn’t feel comfortable holding under the drapes but fed straight away in recovery.

Original poster
Naz2009 · 28/11/2021 10:48

Thank you all.
I feel so much relief after reading everyone's comments. I felt like it was a must and I would be taking away something from the baby if I don't.
Now I'm at ease, if I can do it, perfect and if I can't, for whatever reason it's not the end all and baby i will be fine with delaying it.

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 08/12/2021 02:04

I did with my vaginal births but wasn't allowed to after my c-sections (1 elective and 1 emergency). I wish someone had told me at the time that it would still be good for us both to do it later.

BabaYaga21 · 08/12/2021 02:26

Yes, if you can then go for it. A wonderful experience in the first few minutes with your newborn.

Carbis · 08/12/2021 02:30

I did it with both babies after they were born by c-section. With DS1 one I also did it later in the hospital and lots at home afterwards. With DS2 I’ve not done it since birth, I think partly because I’ve not made as much time because of having another child. He’s 5 weeks now and I realised I’ve really missed it so going to try to spend a bit more time before he gets bigger.

witsendeverytime · 08/12/2021 02:46

I didn't have it with either of my kids as had sections and one was poorly so straight to NICU and don't remember why with first but it didn't happen. No ill effects, so if it doesn't t happen for whatever reason you are not disadvantaging your baby.

Blossom64265 · 08/12/2021 03:12

I couldn’t hold dd right away because I was in the middle of a very complicated c-section. I definitely would have held her to me if I had the chance.

Borracha · 08/12/2021 04:08

I found it a great distraction from stitches or whatever was going on down the other end! In fact, with DC1, when my OB started getting ready to stitch me, I went to hand my baby over to my husband and my doctor quickly said ‘no, hang on to him, it will distract you from what I’m about to do!’

timeisnotaline · 08/12/2021 04:17

Obviously not everyone has the option. I asked my dh to do it if I couldn’t, but I had a decent wait for theatre so held him all that while then handed him to dp. But if it’s a quick birth for example like my second, I was in shock really and shaking all over from the Adrenalin. I was struggling to hold baby really, couldn't use my fingers. Next time I’ll explain to dh in advance I might need help holding the baby, I really didn’t enjoy sitting there shaking trying to hold my baby!

CloudyStorms · 08/12/2021 04:51

If you don't want it then let them know as it's the default in a lot of cases

laurenGame · 08/12/2021 07:17

@teezletangler

If everything is fine, the baby is delivered straight onto your chest. Skin to skin is the default. If for some reason you don't want skin to skin, you need to tell the midwife! I've only had that request a couple of times.
Would it look weird if I asked to clean the baby first, then put a nappy on and then pass to us, parents? Sorry for some reason in my mind that's what happens, I don't see the need to hold if before poor baby has a nice shower/clean Blush when friends send first photos holding the baby in all the liquid stuff, I always think how come they wouldn't give it a quick rinse first 🙊
OGenkiDesuKa · 08/12/2021 10:51

I don’t remember what happened with my first as I was so out of it with drugs and my second I refused to hold him as I was so traumatised from my csection.

Have a wonderful bond with both, breastfeeding my second. He’s 6 weeks old now and I do feel awful about not holding him straight away but my love and bond for him is immense.

MrsPleasant · 08/12/2021 10:56

I couldn't as had a C-section, so asked for her to be removed from my face where she had been plonked after being weighed. Skin to skin was not for me, I had antenatal depression which did not obviously lift the second she was born, so could not have done it, thankfully no-one nagged about it at that time.

Bushkin · 08/12/2021 10:58

Curious as to why you would chose not to OP?

Sickoffamilydrama · 08/12/2021 10:58

Obviously it depends on your birth and if you can.

I found it was very much a primal urge that I had to hold my baby, I needed to right away. I assume that biologically driven and related to hormones but I was surprised how intense it was.

Franca123 · 08/12/2021 11:02

I did it with my first as felt you had to even though I didn't want to. Didn't bother with my second. It's not for me but can't see any harm in it.

elliejjtiny · 08/12/2021 12:10

@Sickoffamilydrama I had that primal urge too. When my youngest was born I remember trying to get up and go over to where he was being resuscitated because I NEEDED to hold him right that minute. Probably a good job I'd had a spinal and couldn't move as getting up and walking around with a massive hole in my tummy would have been a bit unwise Grin

doadeer · 08/12/2021 12:11

Cant think why you wouldn't do this (unless your baby needs medical attention of course)

HeadNorth · 08/12/2021 12:12

Skin to skin helped me establish breastfeeding with my first - great advice from a lovely midwife. Snuggle down skin to skin with baby and let it happen - thank you for bringing up a lovely memory from 24 years ago, OP.