skin to skin contact

[lainey1981]

have also posted on childbirth as not sure best place

hi ladies

I attended an NHS breastfeeding workshop yesterday which I found very reassuring and informative. The best thing I feel I came away with was understanding the importance of skin to skin contact for an hour after birth - i hadn't realised up til now how much that can help with bonding and BF etc.

My hospital (Kings) seems very to have a very baby friendly approach post birth and encourage this bonding time before baby is weighed etc

I have a question (probably sounds pathetic though) can I ask for skin to skin but for the baby to be wiped a little before being placed on me? or will the wiping impact on this?

sorry I feel a little thick, but feel I would be more comfortable if the baby wasn't covered in blood etc

Yes, you can have it in your birth plan that you would like the baby cleaned up before it is given to you.

thanks, probably the last thing I'll care about at the time, but will make sure i let midwife know &
must remember to write this much mentioned 'birth plan' too ...

At my hosp, they clean the baby as standard unless you ask them not to. So no, it doesn't affect the skin to skin bonding. Your post has reminded me how wonderful it is holding your new wee baby for the first time. Ive got 8 days to go til baby2 arrives, and have been feeling really anxious about starting all over again, but you've made me remember how worth it everything is. Thank you. :)

Best of luck

thanks for your reply vcmd28. I've got 10 days til DC1 - also very excited.

good luck to you too

x

it was the last thing i cared about too, i was covered in my own blood, sick,baby poo, and then baby wee still wouldnt change it

Of course you can , but if the baby's got a lot of vernix on his/her skin, you shouldn't aim to clean it off entirely, as it's really good for the skin and helping it to acclimatise to the environment outside the womb.

Honestly you will not care! DD did huge a meconium poo on my arm and I actually did not notice as I was too busy gazing at her