Why skin to skin contact of baby with mother immediate after delivery is important?

Skin-to-skin contact is usually referred to as the practice where, healthy baby is placed belly-down, directly on your chest, right after birth. When babies are held against their mother’s skin, it is the closest they can get to being back in the warmth and security of the womb. 

 Benefits of skin to skin contact

• Improvement in heart and lung function: Skin-to-skin contact also helps baby’s body self-regulate, which stabilizes the heartbeat and breathing patterns.
• Stabilization of body temperature: Through skin-to-skin contact, the mother’s breasts automatically adjust to cool down or warm baby up; similar to when baby was in the womb. Maintaining body temperature is essential for good health. Babies can lose body heat rapidly.
• Breastfeeding:  Breastfeeding reflexes “awaken” during skin-to-skin care.
• Improved breast milk production: Improved breastfeeding also contributes to healthier weight gain. Newborns that have skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth are twice as likely to breastfeed within the first hour.
• Higher blood oxygen levels
• Stimulates digestion 
• Stronger immune systems
• Better sleep
• Lower risk of postpartum depression
• Building a relationship with your baby: Skin-to-skin contact helps you to recognize and learn your baby’s signals sooner. This includes signs of hunger, contentment, discomfort and many others.
• Healthy weight: When babies are warm, they don’t need to use their energy to regulate their body temperature,”