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April 21, 2017

The Truth About Skin to Skin Contact After Birth!

Healthy Birth Practices

Healthy Birth Practices

Giving birth is one of the most exciting events in any woman’s life. Bringing a brand new life into the world can be exciting and challenging, which is why it is important to know Healthy Birth Practices that benefit both the mother and the child. At Dr. Susan Fox’s Center for Women, we want to provide women with smooth and safe labor. Our team of physicians will help walk you through the birthing process and answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to bringing the highest quality of women’s health care possible.

One Healthy Birth Practice that is often discussed is skin to skin contact after birth. As with any issue, there are people who are for it and people who are against it. In a peer-reviewed journal published by the Journal of Prenatal Health, evidence supports immediate skin to skin contact between the mother and child after birth. Delaying skin to skin contact, or not having it at all, can have effects like making attachment and breastfeeding more difficult. When a mother holds her child after birth, a hormone called Oxytocin is produced which produces a “mothering” feeling. Evidence shows that having uninterrupted skin to skin contact for an hour after birth makes the breastfeeding process go much smoother.

Healthy Delivery

Skin to skin contact is also shown to have beneficial effects after birth as well. Mothers who “room-in,” or stay with their newborn for 24 hours in a day, score higher on mother confidence tests than those who did not. Evidence also shows that women who room-in with their newborns also produce more milk than those who did not. Rooming-in also reduced the stress levels in the mother and feelings of depression after birth. Knowing Healthy Birth Practices like this is important for any mother and we hope to help you if you have any questions.

At Dr. Susan Fox’s Center for Women, we are committed to providing women of any age the highest quality service they deserve. Dr. Fox has years of experience and knowledge to make any women feel comfortable when coming to our office. With memberships in various prestigious organizations, Dr. Fox is the premier gynecologist in South Florida.

Lamaze

To learn more about Healthy Birth Practices, call us today at (305) 595-6488 or click here to make an appointment!

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