Skin-To-Skin Care By Hannah Sommer

Hugs Heal Hugs are one of the main interactions we have in life. Every time we are sad, mad, guilty, happy, in love, we hug. Hugging is one of the things that make us feel better. This is where skin-to skin care comes into play. Newborns need that same feel as anyone else in order to be better. Kids are one of our many goals….you grow up….get married…..and create a family of your own. Skin to skin care is something that should be implements in your pre parenthood plan. To start that when they are born to help them become healthier.

What Is It: “It involves direct contact when a newborn is placed skin-to-skin on mom or dad’s bare chest.” ~Jennifer Beatty (handtohold.org) It is also known as Kangaroo Care. Doctors Edgar Rey and Hector Martinez How To: It is best done on a bare chest, meaning not even a thin layer of clothing between you and the baby. As mentioned in the previous slide, skin to skins starts when a baby is born. Jennifer beatty on handtohold.org describes it as a newborn being placed on its mom or dads bare chest. One of the most important keywords there is bare chest. The best way to do it is just you and the baby. No clothing to interfere.

Skin-to-Skin Can Save A Baby's Life Let’s put yourself in another person’s shoe….You’re in the hospital with your husband standing next to you. You just had your baby but you hear no sound. You start to get scared because you are suppose to hear your baby’s first cry but all you hear is the nurses and the doctor talking in the background. Read article and continue with this point of view………….

Benefits to Skin-to-Skin More Sleep Less Crying Babies Adapt Better Regulates Breathing and Temperature Breastfeeding is easier 1-less stress; sleep more deeply and wake up less frequently; meaning more sleep not only fro the baby but for mom and dad…”Seperation distress call” 2-germs; better gut health and immunity; helps digestive sysytem; “Stimulates the vagal nerve, causing increased growth in size of the villi in the newborn gut, which provides a larger surace are for the absorption of nutrition……..bacteria is more familiar; milk produces antibodies 3-synchronize their breath and heartbeat to yours; thermoregulation; skin/womb same temp; when pregnant mom maintains temp by sweating/hot and shivering/cold. Babies can’t when they are cold. 4-Boosts milk production; heightened sense of smell; three months longer; (MILK INCREASES because hormones that regulate lactation balance out)

Benefits to Skin-to-Skin Healthy Weight Reduces pain Postpartum Depression Risk Decreases Great Dad Time 5-uses the energy that the would of used to keep warm to now use it to grow 6- reduces stress level hormones and increases the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to make babies feel calm and safe. When held chest-to-chest, they react less to heel sticks, a minimally invasive way to draw blood, and common source of pain among preemies 7-reduces anxiety for moms; more oxytocin releases; promotes attachment

"Infancy sets up your interactions with your baby for the rest of her life." ~Susan M. Ludington, R.N., Ph.D., executive director of the United States Institute for Kangaroo Care

Works Cited "10 Benefits of Skin-to-skin Contact." Baby Gooroo. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. "The Benefits of Kangaroo Care." Hand to Hold. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. Corner, Lena. "How Skin-to-skin Contact Could save the Lives of Premature Babies." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 07 Feb. 2017. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. Corner, Lena. "Saving Babies' Lives by Carrying Them Like Kangaroos." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 07 Feb. 2017. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. Fetters, K. Aleisha. "Kangaroo Care: 9 Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact." Fit Pregnancy and Baby. Fit Pregnancy and Baby, 03 Apr. 2017. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. Heather. "7 Health Reasons To Be Skin-To-Skin With Your Baby After Birth." Mommypotamus. N.p., 14 Mar. 2017. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. Vhughes. "“Kangaroo Mothers” and the Power of Touch." Phenomena. National Geographic | Phenomena, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.