Kangaroo Care

Skin-to-skin or kangaroo care is a simple yet powerful practice that fosters a deep bond between you and your newborn.  It offers numerous health benefits:

• Helps your baby transition to the outside world easier because he/she can hear your heartbeat and feel your warmth.
• Helps regulate baby’s body temperature.
• Stabilizes their heart rate and breathing rate.
• Your baby will cry less and sleep more.
• Your baby can be held skin-to-skin during procedures.
• Supports baby’s brain development.
• Your baby will latch easier to the breast the first time they feed while holding them skin to skin.
• Encourage breastfeeding success by helping you produce more milk and helping the letdown response.
• You will have better bonding and feelings of closeness.
• You will feel more confident caring for your baby as you enjoy the sweet cuddles after birth.

How do I do Skin-to-Skin Care at birth?

• Immediately after birth, your baby will be dried off and placed on your chest.
• Both you and the baby will be covered with warm blankets.
• We encourage the baby to try and latch for the first feeding at the breast while skin to skin.
• You and your baby may remain skin-to-skin as long as you and your baby are healthy and safe. (Some nursing tasks may need to be performed briefly interrupting skin to skin care)