The Grey Nuns Community Hospital is now offering moms with planned caesarean sections (C-sections) a chance to experience skin-to-skin contact with their baby in the operating room. Research shows the benefits range from boosting breastfeeding to lowering blood pressure, anxiety and pain for mom and baby. Skin to skin is a practice the Grey Nuns has offered to moms during regular deliveries for some time, but after piloting it with planned C-sections, the hospital is now making it a regular option for moms. The Misericordia Hospital is also offering the same service. It is part of Covenant Health's commitment to be Baby Friendly—a special World Health Organization designation.
Baby Elena was just delivered by C-section. As soon as she is checked over by the team of specialists, she will be placed on her mother’s chest, skin to skin.
John Deligianis looks on as his newborn daughter Elena snuggles into the chest of her mother Kayla Deligianis. Skin-to-skin contact right after birth is proven to increase bonding and reduce blood pressure, anxiety and pain for mom and baby.
Fathers are also encouraged to experience skin to skin and can experience some of the same benefits. After Kayla and Elena had some time together, John was able to bond with his new daughter too.
John and his new daughter Elena spend some skin-to-skin time together in the OR after his wife Kayla’s C-section.
Within 30 minutes of delivery, baby Elena was breastfeeding. Early breastfeeding is one of the benefits of skin to skin.
It’s a girl! Dr. Jacquie McCubbin shows proud new parents Robin and Jordon Forslund their beautiful new daughter.
Jordon Forslund holds his little girl skin to skin. The plan was for his wife Robin to hold her first, but she did not feel well enough right after her baby was born. The benefits are still great for the baby and dad.
As the specialist team finishes up with Robin Forslund’s C-section, her husband Jordon and her daughter, who are experiencing the benefits of skin to skin, are sitting right beside her.
Baby settles in comfortably on her mother Robin’s chest as her father Jordon looks on. The experience brings everyone’s anxiety levels down.
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