The environment and behaviors that the baby encounters in the first minutes and hours after birth will have many positive or negative effects on his development. Many studies emphasize the importance of skin-to-skin contact with the baby's mother as soon as it is born. The first hour of life after birth is very important, during this period the baby meets its mother and a family is formed. This special time period should not be intervened in any way unless necessary. Secure attachment begins with skin-to-skin contact at birth. When the child is born and for the first two months, he perceives the mother as an extension of himself. Not seeing his mother worries him. Children who have a secure attachment with their mother will live in peace with themselves and society in the future.
After the baby cries and makes the first breathing movement, the first bonding should be achieved through skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby. The first 30 minutes after birth are the period when the baby is most alert. Skin-to-skin contact can also be applied to cases where cesarean section is performed. Many benefits of skin-to-skin contact have been seen even in premature babies. Skin-to-skin contact should be provided as much as possible in the first few weeks after the baby's birth. Contact with the mother is the baby's living space. If you remove the baby from this area, he will get stressed. The World Health Organization has recommended skin-to-skin contact for newborn babies since 2003. If the mother is not available, skin-to-skin contact should be provided with the father, the other person the baby knows best.
With skin-to-skin contact, the baby's breathing is regulated, the blood sugar level is regulated, the baby's body temperature is maintained, the stress hormone level remains low, the baby is more active. He falls asleep quickly, sleeps longer, and the frequency of crying decreases. Oxytocin hormone is secreted in mothers through skin-to-skin contact. This hormone release reaches its peak due to the baby's contact with his mother and the contact he makes while searching for her breast. Thanks to the oxytocin hormone, also known as the love hormone, the mother's desire to relax, bond with the baby and care for the baby arises. From the baby's perspective, separation from the mother is a life-threatening situation. In case of separation, the baby cries and overreacts to regain the warmth and protection provided by the mother. When the baby is separated from its mother, body temperature decreases, heart rate decreases and blood sugar levels decrease. A fall occurs in the . Although short-term separation does not seem to cause any problems for the baby, prolonged separation will cause permanent damage in the baby's future life.
As a result, skin-to-skin contact is important for the baby to adapt to life after birth. In addition to its physiological benefits, it also has positive psychological effects. It contributes to the baby's brain development both structurally and functionally. By ensuring the first acquaintance between the baby and the mother after birth through skin-to-skin contact, a big step will be taken towards the establishment of a solid home.
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