September 23 2012
Skin to Skin – Give Your Baby a Hug
It’s a fact: babies don’t come with an instruction manual. While moms might not know what type of diapering they want to use, they instinctively know how to love and nurture their little ones.
Southcoast Hospitals Group understands the unique bond between parent and child and is working to promote medical practices that strengthen the bond from the moment of birth. Babies born at St. Luke’s, Tobey, or Charlton are immersed into skin-to-skin contact with their parents.
Skin-to-skin, new to the hospital setting, allows mothers to receive and hold their babies immediately after birth. Previously, the after birth routine was comprised of a brief moment in mom’s arms and a quick trip over to a heating table and into a swaddling cloth. Research supports the notion that skin-to-skin helps mothers and babies transition into their new roles and environment. It is believed that skin-on-skin also helps to develop a foundation for breastfeeding.
Michelle Murray has been a Registered Nurse at the Family Care Unit at Southcoast Hospitals Group for eight years. She talked with us about her role in education and coaching families towards childbirth, “with teaching, it’s great because I am able to spend time with families helping them prepare, and then I follow-up, learn of their experience first-hand, which is nice and very beneficial to what we do.”
When asking about “skin-to-skin,” Michelle touches on the immediate effects, “the focus is on what they call the “magical hour” after the baby is born. Babies actually go through nine stages at this point, and there are health benefits to both mom and baby during this time with skin-to-skin.” She continued to say that dad can participate too, “dad can incorporate skin-to-skin, where the baby is hearing his heartbeat, and his voice, often referred to as “Kangaroo Care,” and also presents benefits to baby as well.”
Learn more about the “magical hour” after baby is born and skin-on-skin from Southcoast’s Michelle Murray, at her MoPa Event workshop, Sunday September 23, 2013 at 5:15pm.
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