Northside Hospital - Special Beginnings

Come to the SCN prepared to hold your baby skin-to-skin! • Let your nurse know when you arrive at the bedside that you would like to hold your baby skin-to-skin. • Wear comfortable clothes. A button down shirt that opens in the front is optimal. • Moms may need to remove their bra/camisole. • Plan to hold your baby for at least one hour. • Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes. • You may wish to bring your pillow or breastfeeding cushion for comfort. • All bed spaces have a curtain that can be pulled for privacy while you are with your baby. • If you are here during a feeding time and your baby is receiving tube feedings, you can still hold your baby during the feeding. This may encourage your baby to root and it is good stimulation for your milk production if you choose to breastfeed. • Your nurse will assist you in positioning your baby for skin-to-skin. • Your baby may need to wear a hat. • Your baby’s temperature will be monitored throughout your skin-to-skin time. • Once you and your baby are comfortable, just relax! Talk quietly to your baby, sing softly or just cherish the special time. • If you feel yourself getting sleepy, alert the nurse so she can assist you in putting your baby back in their bed.

Skin-to-skin is a great beginning.

SKIN-TO-SKIN CARE IN THE SCN

No one can prepare you for the first time you hold your new baby. It’s a special experience like no other. This experience can be enhanced by skin-to-skin contact when you

SCAN + PLAY

hold your baby unwrapped and placed on your bare chest under a blanket. Both parents are encouraged to bond with their baby by doing skin-to-skin care. Most babies are able to be held skin-to-skin. Your health care team can help you decide when the time is right. When skin-to-skin holding needs to be postponed, the perfect alternative is to hold your baby with a “hand hug”. Skin-to-skin holding can help with breastfeeding and milk supply. If you choose not to breastfeed or provide breast milk, skin-to-skin is important for the following reasons: • Increased parent-infant bonding and comfort from hearing the parent’s heart beat. • Possible decreased length of stay in the hospital. • Improvement in baby’s temperature stability. • Improvement in baby’s sleep. • Decrease in oxygen requirements. • Possible decrease in apnea episodes (breathing pauses) and bradycardia episodes (slow heart rate). • May decrease crying and fussiness.

14 Special Beginnings in the Special Care Nurseries