Why is skin-to-skin contact important after birth?

The scientific and clinical basis for skin-to-skin contact is quite strong

“Answer From Wang Jianying,

Chief Delivery Room Nurse,

Northwest Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Xi’an City, Shaanxi, China”

Today we will present a speech by Wang Jianying, a senior nurse at Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital in China, about the "importance of skin-to-skin contact".

First, here is a summary of her speech:

“Since 2016, our hospital has been practising at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact in the delivery and postnatal rooms. The impact is clear when it comes to initiating breastfeeding: now roughly 90% of full-term babies are able to breastfeed exclusively.” 

Three key points are clear from this statement:

1.       Very rapid physical contact between the newborn and the mother is ensured (approximately 90 minutes of continuous skin-to-skin contact).
2.       This practice is beneficial from a developmental and nutritional perspective — especially effective in transitioning to breastfeeding.
3.       As a result, exclusive breastfeeding rates among full-term infants have increased significantly (~90%).

The scientific and clinical basis for skin-to-skin contact for newborns and mothers is quite strong. Below are some of the key points we took from Senior Nurse Wang Jianying's "The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact":

Physical and Biological Benefits –

1.       Skin-to-skin contact helps the baby regulate body temperature better, stabilizes heart rate and breathing.
2.          Early initiation of breastfeeding is rapid and stimulates milk production. For example, breastfeeding rates have been found to be significantly higher after 90 minutes of skin-to-skin contact.
3.       Skin-to-skin contact has also been shown to result in rapid maturation of the nervous system and mental/neurological improvement in pre-term or low birth weight babies.

Psychological and bonding benefits –

1.       The physical presence of the baby next to the mother provides mental peace and security.

2.       The flow of the hormone oxytocin increases, which helps in child-mother bonding and milk production.

3.       Increased skin-to-skin contact at home or in the hospital reduces maternal anxiety and depression, and strengthens the emotional bond with the baby.

Developmental and health benefits –

1.         Skin-to-skin contact can shorten hospital stays, reduce the risk of complications and infections.
2.      Increased breastfeeding rates increase the newborn's immunity, with long-term benefits for intelligence and health.

Advisory information — for mothers

1.        Place the baby naked or at least on the mother's chest as soon as possible after birth.
2.      At least 60–90 minutes of continuous skin-to-skin contact is recommended (as per Wang Jianying's experience).
3.      Even after a cesarean birth, skin-to-skin contact can be initiated safely — as research in China has shown.
4.      During skin-to-skin contact in the hospital or at home, keep the baby's mouth and nose open, and check for breathing problems.
5.      Mothers will also have the opportunity to breastfeed during this time — it is especially important for the baby to have their first feed within the second hour.
6.      If you have any concerns, check with your doctor or nurse. Some babies (e.g., those with maternal conditions, infants in intensive care) may need special advice before skin-to-skin contact.

Conclusion

Health workers like Wang Jianying remind us that skin-to-skin contact between newborns and mothers is not just a “good practice,” but an essential process for neonatal and child development and health. Experience from hospitals in China shows that introducing continuous skin-to-skin contact for just 90 minutes significantly increases breastfeeding rates. If this method becomes more widespread here (in Bangladesh and all countries), the health of the newborn, the morale of the mother, and the bond between the two will be stronger.