Skin-to-skin contact promotes maternal-infant bonding, an important foundation for future relationships. At EJGH, skin-to-skin contact and care begins immediately after birth (or as early as mother and baby are ready), lasting for the first hour (or longer), including the first breastfeeding. This contact allows mother and baby to share touch, hearing, smell, taste, and warmth. Skin-to skin contact calms an infant, for increased feelings of safety and lowered stress hormones. Benefits of skin-to-skin care continue beyond the first day, throughout the early weeks.

Practicing skin-to-skin may also help your baby:

• Remain calm and cry less
• Regulate body temperature more easily
• Maintain normal heart rates, respiratory rates, blood pressures and blood sugar levels
• Achieve a better, more effective latch
• Breastfeed exclusively and breastfeed longer
• Indicate when he is ready to feed

Dads can also provide benefits to baby through skin-to-skin contact. Babies know the sound of his voice which will help him to feel calm, safe and loved.

Rooming-in allows mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day—a practice known to provide physical, and psychological benefits for mother and child. Skilled nursing staff is available to support mothers and babies during rooming-in.

Benefits for mothers:

• Easier breastfeeding, as mothers make and provide more milk
• More likely to breastfeed exclusively and for longer durations
• Same quality of sleep as mothers whose babies sleep in a hospital nursery

Benefits for babies:

• Cry less than babies kept in the nursery
• More likely to gain weight faster
• Sleep quietly between feedings and are soothed more easily

Mothers are encouraged to enjoy time rooming-in, as mothers and their babies develop their new relationship.

“Cuddle Time” at EJGH recognizes needs and requests of new mothers (and their babies) by providing uninterrupted time each day from 2-4pm to promote bonding, breastfeeding, rest and healing. Interruptions are limited to those requested by the patient or medically necessary. Research confirms that daily rest time for new families promotes healing, maternal-infant bonding, improved breastfeeding, and improved infant growth and development.

EJGH is committed to providing our smallest and most vulnerable patients with the best care.

Evidence-Based Care

• Rooming-In
• Skin-to-skin
• Exclusive breastfeeding support
• Neonatal congenital heart disease screening
• Superior quality in-room hearing screen