Breast Feeding - English

Skin to skin helps to regulate your infant’s heart rate, temperature and respirations. It helps to regulate blood glucose and makes your baby feel safe. You can continue to spend time skin to skin with your infant throughout your

hospital stay and at home. Dad can also spend time skin to skin with baby. During the first minutes after birth, your support person can help by checking that your infant’s nose and mouth are clear and that your baby has a nice pink color. Your support person can help you watch for feeding cues, which are signs that your infant is ready to eat, such as sucking on his hands. Staff can help you both to recognize these im- portant cues and assist you and

your baby to latch properly when your infant is ready. It is recommended that you keep your infant skin to skin at least until your infant completes the first breastfeed or for at least 1 hour. Skin to skin is helpful for calming your infant and encouraging him/her to eat. Skin to skin is important after the first hours too. It can help calm your infant and provide comfort. Your baby loves to hear your heartbeat! It’s a good idea to spend time skin to skin with your infant when you are able throughout the first few months of life.

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