There has been lots of research done recently which suggests that immediately after birth; mothers and babies should be together skin to skin. The baby should be naked and pressed against his mother for at least the first hour. Experts have found that babies are happier, their temperature is more stable, heart rate is normal and blood sugar is higher when left skin to skin with their mothers after birth.
 
It is perhaps easier to understand the importance of this by imagining it from the baby’s point of view, a baby’s natural habitat is beside its mother. Being removed from his mother for the first few weeks can prove distressing for a newborn and can lead to a baby crying and refusing to feed. It has been proven that a baby who is kept skin to skin with his mother for the first hour after birth is more likely to latch on without difficulty. This allows the baby to get milk easily and reduces nipple pain in the mother.
 
The infant who is left skin to skin with his mother after birth is less likely to cry and is more likely to breastfeed for longer. He will also be more likely to indicate his hunger to his mother. Research suggests this first hour is vital and mother and baby should be left in peace to bond and comfort one another.

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