What is skin-to-skin contact and why is it so important?
A. Skin-to-skin contact means the babys bare skin is in direct contact with the mothers bare skin. Skin-to-skin contact helps encourage breastfeeding and can be especially useful in a sleepy baby. Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth can help the baby maintain adequate body temperature, and decrease the risk of hypoglycemia associated with cold stress. In a cool environment, mother and baby can both be covered with a blanket, or the baby can be underneath mothers clothes.
