The Power of a Father’s Touch: Why Skin-to-Skin Matters

The Power of a Father’s Touch: Why Skin-to-Skin Matters
By Jennifer D. MacBlane, MHA, MS, CNM, NP, St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center OB/GYN

For women most begin to feel like a mother as soon as they experience early pregnancy symptoms. Nothing says ‘welcome to motherhood’ like feeling tired and nauseous!
 
Fathers are a little different. Maybe it’s that first kick they feel when they touch their partner’s belly. Sometimes, it is watching the birth of a tiny human who looks just like them. However, for many, it is the first time they have held a baby in their arms. In the hospital, mothers are encouraged to hold their baby skin-to-skin for the first hour after birth. This special closeness is known as kangaroo care, a technique similar to how kangaroos keep their babies safe and warm in their pouch. For a newborn, skin-to-skin contact does a lot for the baby--regulating their temperature, slowing their heart rate, lowering their blood pressure, keeping their breathing regulated, and lowering their blood sugar. Basically, they feel comfortable and safe when they are close to you.
 
And it’s not just with moms; dads can do skin-to-skin with their babies, and the benefits are the same!

One of the most significant advantages is the bonding between a Dad and the baby. Skin-to-skin contact releases a hormone called oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” What seems to be a small interaction between you is actually the process of you falling in love with this tiny creature. Dads who hold their babies skin-to-skin are known to have less anxiety, especially about caring for the baby. Tummy-to-tummy contact can increase your confidence as a parent and form an unbreakable bond between you and your new baby. This time together helps reduce your cortisol levels, which in turn decreases your stress levels and lowers your blood pressure. And you thought children would increase your stress!
 
So, to all the great dads out there, consider holding your new baby skin to skin, not only at birth but at home in the first few months. Time goes so fast, and before you know it, that baby will be off to college (insert tears here).
 
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

 

Jennifer D. MacBlane, MHA, MS, CNM, NP, St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center OB/GYN

Jennifer D. MacBlane, MHA, MS, CNM, NP, St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center OB/GYN
To schedule an appointment for midwifery care, please call 315.703.5200.