Skin to skin after cesarean birth: Discussing Your Preferences

Skin to skin contact means holding your baby against your bare chest with support to keep them warm and safely positioned. It can often begin after a caesarean, including in theatre when you and your baby are well enough. Ask your team how they support it in your planned birth setting.

Put the preference into your birth discussion

Tell the midwife and anaesthetist that you would like early contact if it is suitable. Ask who will help position the baby while monitoring and surgery continue. Your arms, the surgical screen and equipment can affect what is comfortable.

Our birth companion guide can help you discuss a support role. Staff should remain involved: asking a companion to help does not transfer responsibility for checking you and the baby to them.

Understand what contact can offer

Early skin contact helps with warmth, settling and getting feeding started. It also gives you time to become familiar with your baby. You can ask for help with a first breastfeed if that is your plan, without needing to make the baby follow a strict sequence.

Some babies need more support with feeding or adjustment after birth. Skin contact can be part of that care, but it does not replace assessment if the baby is unwell or feeding poorly.

Keep position and observation central

The baby’s head needs support, with the face visible and the nose and mouth unobstructed. Staff continue checking breathing, colour, temperature and responsiveness, as well as your own condition. Tell them immediately if the baby looks unusually pale or blue, becomes floppy or seems to have difficulty breathing.

You also need to be awake and able to hold the baby safely with appropriate help. If you become very sleepy, dizzy or unable to maintain a safe position, ask staff to take the baby and help. Do not continue holding them unsupported because you are worried about interrupting contact.

Make a plan if contact is delayed

General anaesthesia or a need for urgent care can postpone the first cuddle. Ask when it can start safely and whether a companion can offer contact while you recover, with staff support. If your baby needs neonatal care, the team can explain when touch, holding or skin contact becomes possible.

A delay does not close the opportunity to build a close relationship. Contact can begin later and be offered again. Tell staff if missing the first moments is upsetting so they can help you understand what happened and find the next opportunity.

Continue safely in recovery

The hospital recovery guide explains why help is needed as the anaesthetic wears off. Keep the call bell accessible and ask for assistance lifting or repositioning your baby. If you are ready to sleep, ask for the baby to be placed safely in their cot rather than falling asleep while holding them.