Skin-to-skin with Daddy ~ Non birthing Parent

Humans are funny little creatures. They need studies to prove what we see in Nature so clearly. Studies that demonstrate that a newborn human, a mammal should not be separated from its parents after birth. Better still: they need studies that demonstrate that not separating a newborn from its parents causes no harm. Well then so be it. Bring on the studies. It is backed by evidence. Newborns fare way better when skin to skin with mum and/or dad/ non birthing parent, after birth. And in the weeks following birth.

I feel it´s well established how skin-to-skin with mum is important for bonding, breastfeeding rates and newborn survival. But what about dad/non birthing parent? Yes, we can already find a strong body of evidence to support this practice too.

I often find myself in awe and reverence, recognizing the enormous process that a newborn baby goes through in just a few minutes immediately after being born. It goes from a water environment to a land one.  Feels cold and hunger for the first time. The sounds, usually muffled by the dark walls of the uterus and amniotic fluid are now more intense. The light is brighter than its little eyes are used to. Even in the best of circumstances, assuming baby will not undergo invasive interventions, or separation from its parents, it´s a lot for such a tiny being to integrate.

Enter skin-to-skin. This “technique” initially described as Kangaroo care, was first done on premature babies. And that´s where our first body of evidence comes from: “Evidence suggests that kangaroo care is a safe and effective alternative to conventional neonatal care, especially in under-resourced settings and may reduce morbidity and mortality in low birth weight infants as well as increase breastfeeding.” (WHO, 2023).

Skin to skin is mostly done and respected in hospitals nowadays. And yes, it´s good for term babies too. Skin-to-skin regulates the baby’s heart and breathing rhythm, makes for better transition to the outside world, stimulates digestion and interest in breastfeeding, regulates the baby’s temperature, promotes its colonization of the mother’s “good bacteria”, and stimulates the release of breastfeeding-promoting hormones.

We generally tend to think of skin-to-skin as mum and baby together, naked from the waist up in the so-called golden hour. But what about the father, and/ or the non-birthing parent? The literature is already pointing out the importance and benefits of skin-to-skin contact with the other parent, both in cases where the mother is unable to do so, and after that golden hour.

SO WHAT DOES THE EVIDENCE SAY?

“The Effect of Paternal Skin-to-Skin Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Control Trials” (2022)  – This recent systematic review concluded among other things that babies cried less when on skin-to-skin with dad, as opposed to babies left in a cot or incubator.

“Effects of Father-Neonate Skin-to-Skin Contact on Attachment: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2017):  These study results confirm the positive effects of SSC interventions on the infant care behaviour of fathers in terms of exploring, talking, touching, and caring and on the enhancing of the father-neonate attachment relationship at 3 days postpartum. Although facilitating mother-child SSC and breastfeeding immediately postpartum is standard obstetric practice in Taiwan, few fathers currently benefit from facilitated SSC with their newborn infant during postpartum hospitalization.”

“Skin-to-skin contact by fathers and the impact on infant and paternal outcomes: an integrative review: (2016) – Infant skin-to-skin contact had positive impacts on infants’ outcomes, including temperature and pain, bio-physiological markers, behavioural response, as well as paternal outcomes, which include parental role attainment, paternal interaction behaviour, and paternal stress and anxiety.” So a father’s involvement in providing skin-to-skin contact seems to be feasible and beneficial to both infants and fathers.

“Father-infant skin-to-skin contact appears to be beneficial, however paternal experiences of this need to be explored.” (2016)

“Newborn infants who received skin-to-skin contact with fathers after Caesarean sections showed stable physiological patterns (2021) – The skin-to-skin group showed some advantages over the cot and fathers’ arms groups when it came to establishing stable physiological parameters and wakefulness. This approach should be supported during mother-infant separation.”

JUST DO IT!

In an age where gender equality is a such a valued concept, for it to be a reality, we need not just public policies, but also to understand that the non-birthing parent´s involvement must begin early on.

In my journey as a doula, after supporting a couple in finding information, making the choices that matter to them and going through the intensity of labour, one of the things that really still makes shed a tear is that moment of them meeting and cuddling their baby. And how baby can recognize them, their voices, their touch. All of that tells that baby “I´m at the right place”. Everybody wins, really, as a family and as individuals.

THE USUAL DISCLAIMERS:

Not all births are beautiful or low risk. Not all hospitals are respectful and loving. Not all clinical situations allow for immediate skin to skin. Some difficult birth stories leave trauma in their wake. But I do believe there is space for healing, and recovery. And as a family comes to terms with their difficult narrative, skin-to-skin can definitely be a tool to support them in finding their way back to each other.

I want to thank these parents who gave me permission to share such beautiful and intimate moments. As I look at them, they are all so different. Home births, hospitals births, caesareans. But by these awesome images, alone, we can´t tell the difference 😉

Thank you. I have learned from you all.

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