Our recent SKIPPY study sheds light on the positive impact of skin-to-skin contact between mothers and full-term babies. We found that daily skin-to-skin contact for five weeks after birth led to significant benefits for both mothers and babies. For example: 

• Mothers engaging in skin-to-skin contact reported lower levels of fatigue and anxiety.
• Babies showed reduced crying and increased sleep duration.
• Children at three years old exhibited fewer behavioral problems.
• The microbiome of babies involved in skin-to-skin contact showed lower volatility and a lower microbiome age.

Carolina de Weerth is keen to further investigate the effects found on the microbiome. She also advocates for promoting skin-to-skin contact as a simple and cost-effective practice for all parents in the weeks after birth.

You can read the entire article here.