Back in 2016, a little boy went viral for helping his dad give skin-to-skin to newborn twins. In 2021, this story has become even more meaningful. With the current pandemic, people are missing out on social connection and human touch. They are unable to travel to friends and relatives in other countries or states. During lockdowns, people can’t even meet up with a friend in the neighborhood. Phone and Zooms calls don’t cut it. Everyone has become touch-starved. As a result, in-person contact has become more valued than ever. And it’s time to treasure moments like a baby’s first cuddle.
Little Boy Gives Skin-to-Skin to His Newborn Sibling
NINO Birth is an organization in South America that distributes information about childbirth. Part of its methodology is the importance of skin-to-skin contact for the newborn. Therefore, NINO posted an adorable photo of the boy in Denmark helping his father with the newborn twins. Each of them is holding a baby to their bare chests. The picture was shared over 20,000 times on Facebook, with thousands of comments heaping praise and love on the little boy and his family.
Skin-to-skin, also called ‘kangaroo care,’ is when newborns are taken out of their incubators to hold skin-to-skin with their parents. Or, in this case, a big brother.
NINO Birth promotes this practice because, as they wrote in the caption of the viral post, “The parent’s chest regulates the temperature better than an incubator. Skin-to-skin contact helps the baby to breathe better. The child becomes calmer and gains weight faster.
“Research shows that parents bacterial flora – compared with hospital bacteria – reduces the risk of serious infections in these delicate children.”
One mother, Tamara Tammy, commented on the post, saying, “My son was born in the 28th week [of pregnancy]. We spent two months in the hospital having skin-to-skin contact. It’s so wonderful. It regulates the baby’s temperature, and also the baby is learning how to breathe listening to your breathing and lying on the chest.” [1]
Some commenters lamented that this practice isn’t emphasized in all countries, especially for mothers who aren’t breastfeeding. Shelly Ferguson from Australia wrote, “This is amazing. My baby was prem and born at four pounds seven ounces, and I wasn’t allowed to hold him most of the time. I was only ever offered skin to skin twice, and he was in care for 26 days.
“I wasn’t allowed to stay with him. [It was the] most stressful time of my life, but the baby is okay and healthy. It’s a shame Australia isn’t on board with this.” [2]
The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin
In hospitals that promote skin-to-skin, the baby is dried off, settled on the mother’s bare chest, and covered with a thick blanket to stay warm. This is a beautiful moment for the mom and child to get to know each other. Sometimes the fathers do skin-to-skin instead, depending on the circumstances.
This practice could be very beneficial to newborns for the following reasons:
Better breastfeeding
Skin-to-skin and snuggling is a good start for breastfeeding. Studies have shown that newborns who got skin-to-skin breastfed better and longer. It could also help the mother understand when to nurse according to the baby’s needs.
Entering the world
Newborns have to transition from being in the womb into an entirely different environment. Skin-to-skin helps bridge that transition, helping the babies stay calmer and maintain healthier blood sugar levels than the infants who lie in a crib or stay swaddled while held. [3]
Bonding
Skin-to-skin could affect the relationship between the mother and the baby. Researchers discovered that mothers who did skin-to-skin tend to touch and cuddle their babies more often, even years later.
Other benefits for the babies include:
- Stronger immune systems
- Improved brain development
- Better sleep
- Improved digestion
- Stable heartbeat and breathing [4]
Skin-to-skin could continue after moms leave the hospital with their bundle of joy. The benefits could continue as well. If the father hadn’t gotten a chance to cuddle skin-to-skin, he could do so at home.
The babies aside, the parents who give skin-to-skin may have heightened feelings of confidence and calmness, two vital needs after bringing a newborn home for the first time. Additionally, this could reduce the risk of postpartum depression for the mom.
Keep Reading: Study Finds Moms Are Happier When Their Kids Have Early Bedtimes
References:
- “Little Boy Helps Dad With Skin-To-Skin Contact For Newborn Siblings.” Huffpost. Caroline Bologna. May 19, 2016.
- “’Amazing’ photo of boy cuddling premature sibling sparks interest in skin to skin practice.” Independent. May Bulman. May 22, 2016.
- “Skin-to-Skin Contact for You & Baby.” Cleveland Clinic. January 1, 2018
- “The importance of skin-to-skin with baby after delivery.” Sanford Health. JoLyn Seitz, MD. July 18, 2017.
