Your first feed and skin-to-skin contact
Skin-to-skin contact is encouraged for all mothers and babies to continue until after the first feed and for as long as they wish
It is recommended that the first feed is offered in skin-to-skin contact, as soon as possible after birth, but ideally within an hour after birth.
If you cannot have skin-to-skin immediately after birth, our staff will support your partner to undertake skin-to-skin as soon as possible.
Skin-to-skin videos
Here are some great videos on skin-to-skin and meeting your baby for the first time. Babies left in skin-to-skin contact for a long period of time will self-latch to the breast.
- The Meeting your baby for the first time video from UNICEF explores skin-to-skin contact, a practice which supports feeding and relationship-building.
- Skin to skin video from BabyBuddy
- Breastfeeding in the first few hours, from GlobalHealthMedia