Mothers and infants in Skin-to-Skin care and control groups were seen when infants were 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. Fewer depressive symptoms with the group of SSC mothers. SSC group mothers who initially chose to breastfeed continued to breastfeed their infants throughout the 3 months, whereas breastfeeding mothers in the control group declined over the visits. Mother–child in who had been in the SSC group showed more engagement and reciprocity in the conversations than mother–child dyads who had been in the control group. Oxytocin, which is induced by SSC, is hypothesized to be an underlying factor

longitudinal study of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) with mothers and full-term infants

In a longitudinal comparison through three months after birth, mothers in the skin-to-skin contact group reported fewer depressive symptoms and were more likely to continue breastfeeding than mothers in the control group. Mother–infant dyads in the skin-to-skin contact group also showed greater engagement and reciprocity. Oxytocin was proposed as a possible contributing mechanism, but the supplied study context does not establish it as the sole cause of these outcomes.

Michigan State University

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Skin-to-Skin care is a practice after birth where the infant is dried and laid on the mother's bare chest and in some cases the father. This practice is not only important for the baby but for the mother or father mentally.

Importance of Infant Skin-to-Skin Care.

This care comes with several benefits, especially reducing the risk of postpartum depression. When holding the baby, oxytocin levels increase and this helps reduce blood pressure, lowers stress level, and restores pre-preganancy hormones.

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