Skin-to-skin contact at birth
When babies are born, they are usually placed on their parent's bare chest for around an hour or until after the first feed. During this practice, parent and baby are both covered in a warm blanket for extra comfort. This initial skin-to-skin contact can help you to bond with each other and prepare them for feeding.[1]
Continuing with skin-to-skin contact beyond birth
Skin-to-skin contact continues to be beneficial for babies after birth. It's great for helping them regulate their body temperature, as babies are born unable to manage this until they are older,[2] and supports their physical and sensory development, providing comfort and further deepening the close bond between parent and baby.
Studies have found that skin-to-skin contact also supports babies with the experience of pain, and can shorten the duration of pain felt.[3]
Spending time close together can also help you tune into your baby’s unique signals that they will begin to use to show hunger, tiredness or discomfort.
References:
[1] https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/skin-to-skin-contact/
[2] https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1023&context=pharmacy_nursing_poster_session
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19948613/