Supporting Your Birth & Breastfeeding Journey in Manchester, NH
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth is more than just a sweet bonding moment—it’s a powerful, evidence-based practice that significantly improves breastfeeding success and supports newborn development.
As a birth doula and lactation professional in Manchester, NH, I always encourage my clients to take full advantage of skin-to-skin time after birth and throughout the early postpartum period. Here’s why it matters so much.
💗 What Is Skin-to-Skin Contact?
Skin-to-skin, sometimes called “kangaroo care,” refers to the practice of placing a naked (or diaper-only) newborn directly on their parent’s bare chest immediately after birth. This simple, instinctive act initiates a cascade of biological responses in both baby and parent that support breastfeeding, bonding, and newborn stabilization.
🍼 How Skin-to-Skin Boosts Breastfeeding
Babies are born with natural reflexes that help them initiate breastfeeding when placed skin-to-skin. This is often called the breast crawl—where the baby uses smell, touch, and instinct to nuzzle toward the breast, latch, and begin feeding.
Benefits of skin-to-skin for breastfeeding include:
- Improved latch and early breastfeeding success
- Stimulation of milk production through oxytocin release
- Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding
- Reduced stress and crying in newborns
Research shows that babies who experience uninterrupted skin-to-skin are more likely to breastfeed within the first hour of life and are more likely to breastfeed effectively in the days and weeks that follow.
🌡️ Other Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin-to-skin isn’t just helpful for nursing—it plays a major role in helping your baby transition gently into the outside world. Some additional benefits include:
- Regulated body temperature
- Stabilized heart rate and breathing
- Balanced blood sugar levels
- Boosted immunity and reduced risk of infection
- Enhanced brain development and attachment
It’s also soothing for parents! Skin-to-skin encourages the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which helps reduce postpartum stress, promotes bonding, and may even lower your risk of postpartum depression.
👨🍼 Skin-to-Skin Is for Partners Too
Non-birthing parents can also practice skin-to-skin with their newborn. This helps build connection, support early bonding, and give the birthing parent time to rest and recover—especially in the early hours and days postpartum.
🤱 Support for Breastfeeding in Manchester, NH
If you’re preparing for birth and want to maximize your chances of breastfeeding success, skin-to-skin is an excellent place to start. As a doula and lactation support provider, I offer guidance on:
- Creating a breastfeeding-friendly birth plan
- Supporting early latch and feeding cues
- Navigating breastfeeding challenges in the first days and weeks
Whether you’re birthing in a hospital, birth center, or at home, I’ll help you create a plan for uninterrupted skin-to-skin time and feeding support.
Ready to Feel Confident About Breastfeeding?
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Get the compassionate support you deserve—from birth to breastfeeding and beyond.
📍 Based in Manchester, NH — serving Southern NH families
💻 Learn more at www.fromtheheartdoula.net
📧 Reach out: tiamiddleton.doula@gmail.com
From The Heart Doula 