Children's allergies & asthma is on the rise in both Canada & the U.S. One of the many reasons may be that our diets are becoming more and more processed and lacking in nutrients. Omega 3's, or Omega-3- polyunsaturated fatty acids, are lacking in our western diet. In addition to being low or deficient, we have a high consumption of Omega 6. About a century ago, our Omega 6: Omega 3 ratio was around 4:1 or even less. Flash forward to today, our ratio is about 20:1. This drastic increase in Omega 6 compared to Omega 3 is thought to be increasing the risk of chronic diseases, including allergies & asthma.

Omega 3's are one of the oils that come from the fatty tissue of fish. Fish oil capsules are concentrated versions of two of the most important components: EPA & DHA.

In practice, I recommend almost all of my pregnant patients take an Omega 3 supplement, or consume 2-3 servings of fish per week. For example, 100g of fresh salmon has about 4g of Omega 3. Canned salmon contains around 1g. I typically recommend pregnant women get around 1-2 grams per day, with a good ratio of EPA:DHA. DHA is important for baby's brain development, and EPA is important for reducing inflammation. In addition to this, one study in particular looked at how fish oil during pregnancy impacts asthma development in children.

This study looked at 736 pregnant Danish women. The women were randomized to receive either 2.4 g per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) derived from a fish oil supplement, or a placebo, during the third trimester. 695 of the children born were then followed for five years. The children of the mothers who received fish oil had a relative reduction of 30.7% in asthma or persistent wheeze and fewer lower respiratory infections.

Fish oil is one of my favourite supplements across the board, and pregnant women are no exception. In addition to reducing the risk of heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and improving mental health status, it improves neurodevelopment and reduces the risk of asthma in baby. There are some early studies that suggest fish oil may also reduce the risk of pre term birth.

References:
 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28029926/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8504498/#:~:text=Up%20until%20about%20100%20years,perpetuates%20chronic%20low%2Dgrade%20inflammation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12442909/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046737/

I am a HUGE fan of infra-red saunas, but if you're pregnant, I don't recommend utilizing them.

The sauna has been used for centuries, and are especially popular in places like Scandinavia. Studies suggest the sauna is great for preventing & managing hypertension, congestive heart failure, and can even be beneficial in recovering after a heart attack (after the acute recovery stage). The sauna is also indicated  for COPD, chronic fatigue syndromes like fibromyalgia, recovering from substance addiction, and chronic pain. For the average person, infra-red saunas are a great way to improve your health, have more energy, and promote longevity! I personally aim to use the sauna at least 1-2x per month from October-May.

However, when it comes to pregnancy, I recommend patients steer clear. Even for someone like myself who utilizes the sauna often and tolerates the high temperature of the sauna quite well, I would not personally feel comfortable using the sauna while pregnant. Here's why..

Some evidence suggests that an increased body temperature of 101º F might be teratogenic (causing harm to baby) causing an increased risk of birth defects like neural tube defects, heart and jaw defects, and pre-term labour- all which increase the risk of serious complications with baby. I know, a fever and a sauna are not the same thing, but what they have in common is that they both raise our body temperature. Since we can't single out the exact reason that a fever increases these risks (infection, dehydration, the temperature itself) we have to assume it could be any of the above and play on the safe side.

Aside from raising body temperature, the sauna also increases the risk of overheating, dehydration and fainting which pregnant women are even more susceptible to than their non-pregnant body would be. When you're pregnant, you have increased blood supply to the skin, huge hormonal changes, not to mention you're keeping yourself alive PLUS a whole other human inside you, AND a whole new organ (the placenta). Your body may not be able to keep up with the demand, making it more likely for you to faint or become dehydrated.

Using the sauna to improve your health pre or post-baby, after being cleared by your doctor, can be a great addition to your health routine. During pregnancy, it's better to stay clear of the sauna, or at the very least, reduce the temperature to it's lowest setting and reduce the time spent in the sauna.

#1: See a naturopathic doctor 6-12 months before you want to start trying for a baby
It is never too early to start planning your pregnancy! As a naturopathic doctor, I have a heavy focus on prevention and optimization.  This includes reducing the risk of things like gestational diabetes and post partum anxiety/depression(PPA/PPD). It also means setting the stage for proper post partum healing, attaining optimal nutrition status and optimizing baby's immune system. Something I see often in my practice are Mums who are 12 weeks or more post partum who are exhausted and irritable more than they should be at that time. While yes, this can be an aspect of or be caused by post partum depression, what a lot of people don't realize is that getting your iron, B12 and Vitamin D status to a really good point during pregnancy (but ideally, even before pregnancy!) we can reduce the risk of these feelings so you can feel better as a post partum mum. It's much easier to get these levels up before pregnancy, and work on maintenance, than it is to realize we're deficient AFTER baby and THEN start (when we already symptoms). So get your bloodwork and see your ND way ahead of schedule if possible!

#2: Get off birth control 3+ months before you're ready to start trying
Many doctors will tell you "you can get pregnant pretty much immediately after you discontinue your birth control". This goes for hormonal IUDs as well, not just the Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP). While technically this is true there are two things we need to consider:
​
1) Birth control depletes many nutrients, so it would not be ideal to start pregnancy in a depleted state. 
2) A LOT of women were not originally put on birth control for contraception. Many women are put on it because they had irregular periods....read on...

One of the biggest problems I see are women who were put on birth control to 'regulate their period'. (Hint: birth control does not 'regulate your period' in any real sense. What it does is give you a withdrawel bleed, and it masks the real reason why your period was irregular in the first place). Coming off birth control with ample time give us time to dive into why your periods are out of whack. Whether it's endometriosis, PCOS, or other reproductive issues, I help women deal with these issues and have a healthy period. I have helped women with heavy periods have normal periods. I have helped women who weren't having a period have a period. I have helped women with 40-50 days cycles have 28-30 days regular cycles. IT IS POSSIBLE TO REGULATE YOUR PERIOD WITHOUT BIRTH CONTROL. Unfortunately, MD's and NP's only have one tool in their toolbox for this: birth control. Fortunately, I have several evidence-based tools that I use with patients to regulate their periods (nutrition, exercise, stress management, hormone balancing herbs, etc). For some women it takes 1-2 months to normalize, other women may take 6-12 months. It depends on the person and the issue, which is why I recommend getting off OCP as early as possible and getting your period figured out sooner rather than later.

By getting off birth control with ample time, we give ourselves time to improve our likelihood of becoming fertile, as well as improve our nutrient status to improve pregnancy and post partum outcomes. 

#3.  Get bloodwork!!!
Your MD or your ND can order bloodwork for you. Make sure your provider knows you are getting this bloodwork because you are TTC. They will order extra things such as Rubella, in order to determine your risk. It's important to get tested for things like Rubella because if you no longer have antibodies and you contract it while pregnant, there is a high risk of miscarriage or still birth. This gives you time to get the vaccine before pregnancy, as it is recommended you wait 4 weeks after having the vaccine to begin trying. Vaccines are not in my scope of practice with Ontario, so you will need to discuss this topic with your MD or NP.

If you're seeing me in my office for the first time, I recommend bringing a copy of your most recent blood work with you. I often see patients bring me lab work from their MD/NP that isn't as thorough as I'd like to see it, so I can order the extras for you in order to fill in the gaps. Some things you want to get tested pre-conception in addition to your typical work up includes Vitamin D, ferritin, B12, and a full thyroid panel. Like I mentioned above, this gives us time to treat underlying disease that can make pregnancy difficult (like thyroid conditions) if gone untreated, and gives us time to boost nutrient status.

#4. Focus on a healthy lifestyle.
There is tons of literature that supports eating a healthy diet and exercising. I always recommend starting to do this before pregnancy to get into a habit. It's way easier to continue exercising and eating healthy into pregnancy than it is to get started when you're already pregnant. Exercise is not dangerous for the baby, and it reduces the likelihood of issues arising in late pregnancy and labour. Continuing to exercise after labour is also important as it reduces the likelihood of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). There are certain conditions during pregnancy that may make exercise less safe for you, so always discuss this with your medical provider.

Don't assume you need to stop smoking or drinking once you know you're pregnant. I see this a lot in my practice! "We're going to start trying for a baby seriously in 6 months but right now we're just being a little less careful". If there is ANY chance you could become pregnant, it's important to discontinue behaviours that are dangerous for baby. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog post, most women find out they're pregnant between weeks 4-7. However, baby is most susceptible to damage between weeks 1-4, before we even know we're pregnant. Odds are, a glass of wine or a smoke- and baby will be just fine. But my personal recommendation: why would we risk an increased risk in our baby's health if it could be prevented? Focus on quitting smoking and drinking as soon as becoming pregnant becomes a possibility.

If you're looking to start living healthier lifestyle but not ready to commit to a pre-conception plan, I recommend taking my Women's Wellness Course. Although it's not directly targeted at pregnant women, the recommendations & information in the course are all totally relevant to women planning to conceive.

#5. Review your medications and supplements.
Something I see often in my practice are women who are on 1 or more medications and they don't even know if they need it. Many medications and supplements can be dangerous for baby, but at the same time, it can be dangerous for Mom coming off a medication that is providing her with a lot of benefit. There are many examples, but since SSRI's are so common, let's use this as an example. SSRI's cross the blood-brain barrier and cross into the placenta and breast milk. There is some evidence that suggests they may cause heart defects, miscarriage, and low birth weight in baby. The research is not conclusive, which means we need to decide how much risk we are willing to take. Untreated depression for Mom increases the risk of suicide, using alcohol or drugs, and poor self care. These actions can lead to the same outcomes as taking the SSRI's. Overall, you need to discuss with your doctor how much benefit you are getting from a medication and compare it to the risk of going off the drug.

If there is any chance you may become pregnant you need to be taking a minimum of 400mcg of folic acid or folate per day, which is why I typically recommend all sexually active women of childbearing age be on a pre natal, even if you're not TRYING to get pregnant right now.

Some supplements are contraindicated in pregnancy and known to increase the risk of miscarriage or cause other complications. Your Naturopathic Doctor will be the best person to talk to when it comes to figuring out what supplements are safe and what is harmful, so you know what to stop taking when you're TTC.

#6. Ditch toxic home and body products
More and more literature is starting to show us that our common home and body products are messing with our hormones. We call these 'endocrine disruptors' (ED's). These are chemicals that interfere with our endocrine or hormone system. Evidence suggests that these ED'S can increase the risk of cancer, nervous system damage, and other unknown effects on the body. Studies show that things like BPA and phthalates can cross into the placenta and affect baby. There is a growing body of evidence showing that exposure to a number of chemicals may adversely impact child development through altered endocrine function. We need more studies on this, but this isn't something I would want to risk.

I recommend checking out this link: SKIN DEEP
You can see how toxic your current products are rated and make switches to cleaner products.

I don't recommend switching everything out at once. I typically recommend waiting until your out of something, and then replacing it with something cleaner at that time. Overall, cleaning with vinegar and essential oils instead of lysol. Stop burning candles. Switch out lotions and topical products before worrying about shampoo and conditioner. If you wear makeup on a consistent basis, switching to a cleaner foundation will be the most important. And last but certainly not least, ditch the plastic tupperware and teflon. I recommend cooking with cast iron and storing food in stainless steel or glass containers. Plastic bottles belong nowhere.

#7 Go to therapy.
Like I say again and again, prevention it the key. Seeing a therapist to discuss any worries or past trauma before bringing a baby into the picture will be of the utmost importance. I recommend at least 2-3 sessions, but your practitioner will be able to guide you as to how many sessions you actually need. I find it takes at least 1-2 sessions to get comfortable with a new therapist. 

#8 See a pelvic floor therapist.
Your pelvic floor needs to be prepared for the intensity of childbirth. Ensuring it is strong but not hypertonic will set the stage for a healthy pelvic floor, and promote better healing of the pelvic floor after childbirth. A lot of women have bladder leakage after childbirth which is normal as the pelvic floor heals, but for many women it doesn't heal completely. Although it is common, it is not normal and can be helped by pelvic floor physio. I recommend seeing a practitioner before you're pregnant, and they'll be able to develop a personalized plan.

​#9. Get excited!
This is a super exciting time in your life! Enjoy the journey and the process. Learn to live in the moment. It's easy to get stressed about the little things, and having a baby doesn't make that any easier. Learn to be excited about the little moments and keep that with you as you move on with your fertility journey!

*Please note, this is not medical advice. This is for educational purposes only. 

History lesson:
In the 1900's, 'nothing by mouth' policies were introduced. This meant labouring women were forced to fast for the duration of their labour. This policy was due to an increased risk of aspiration (foreign body entering the lungs) under anaesthesia. However, not everyone will require anaesthesia and the safety of anaesthesia has improved significantly. Many hospital guidelines have not changed, despite research showing there being little to no harm to eating and drinking during labour. In addition to the literature not showing significant risk, we also do not have data that shows fasting during labour guarantees an empty stomach. If the stomach IS empty, there could be a higher amount of stomach acid, which (if aspirated) could be even more dangerous than food itself (Harty et al, 2015).

The Research:
A Cochrane Review of 5 RCTs (low risk births) found no benefit OR harm to eating and drinking during labour. it's important to note here that these studies did NOT ask Mum about how they felt. So potentially, there could be a lot of benefit (see my experience below).

A larger, more recent review showed slightly shorter labour in women who ate & drink during labour, and these women were twice as likely to report feeling satisfied throughout labour than the group who were only given sips of water (Goodall & Wallymahmed, 2006).

My Experience:
Clinically, the women I see in my Doula practice who eat and drink during labour report feeling more energized during labour, allowing them to continue pushing and seem to be less likely to need/request interventions because they have the energy to keep running this marathon of the uterus!

Overall:
There is no literature that suggests an 'ideal' nutrition plan for those in labour. I always recommend my Doula clients 'go with their gut' and eat foods that they love, make them feel good, and are easy to consume between contractions. Foods easier to digest & higher in carbohydrates may be a good idea, as we know muscles use glucose for energy.

*These studies are low risk births. Having a high BMI does not automatically make you a high risk birth. This is not medical advice. Always discuss with your healthcare provider. 

​Download my FREE guide to eating during labour below- with a bonus make-ahead recipe!

WHO SHOULD BE TAKING ONE?
I typically suggest that all women of child bearing age that have the possibility of becoming pregnant, women who are trying to conceive, women who are pregnant, and women who are post partum* take a prenatal vitamin.  Ideally, we get allllll the nutrients & vitamins we need from a healthy diet, but due to depleted soil where our food is grown, birth control pills depleting us of important nutrients, along with other factors, a lot of us simply aren't getting everything we need. t's still important to eat healthy diet when trying to conceive, while pregnant, and post partum! However, a pre natal vitamins helps to fill in the gaps.

I'M NOT TRYING TO CONCEIVE- WHY TAKE ONE?
Did you know that in Canada, about 60% of pregnancies are unplanned?! Taking a prenatal vitamin ensures that if you do become pregnant, even without planning, you're still setting the stage for a healthy pregnancy. For example, Folate reduces the risk of miscarriage and neural tube defects, but only when taken in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. However, most women don't find out they are pregnant until they are 4-7 weeks along.

Women who work with me while trying to conceive or when they are pregnant are at an advantage because we have the ability to improve nutrient status before becoming pregnant or before breastfeeding, so we aren't moving 2 steps forward and one step back as baby requests more and more from mum.

DOES RESEARCH PROVE IT?
Many studies show that prenatal vitamins improve the healthy of baby AND mum!

• Increased likelihood of pregnany when trying to conceive
• Reduced risk of miscarriage
• Reduced risk of prenatal anxiety, prenatal depression, post partum depression
• Reduced risk of pregnancy complications including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight babies, birth defects, and stillbirth
• Reduced rates of chronic illness in baby as they age (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease)

NOT ALL PRENATAL VITAMINS ARE EQUAL...
First thing to note: something is better than nothing. When it comes to cost or routine recommendation from a health provider, taking a Flinstone vitamin or Materna is going to be better than taking nothing at all. However, your run of the mill prenatal is more focused on preventing deficiency rather than providing optimal nutrients. I always recommend taking a prenatal that has optimal dose and best quality. This means the vitamin should have enough in it to be beneficial for you and baby, and it should be in it's most bioavailable form. 

For example, let's talk about folate. Adequate levels of folate improve egg quality, prevent miscarriage,  preclampsia and placental abruption, and reduce the risk of prenatal post partum depression. It also prevents neural tube defects in baby. Take a look at your prenatal. It probably contains folic acid- a form of folate that needs to be converted in the body. In order to process folic acid, you need a functioning MTHFR gene. Unfortunately, defects in this gene are common, and impair your ability to convert folic acid to folate. I typically recommend a prenatal with 5-MTHF or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, so no conversion is needed and we know you're consuming the proper amount of folate in order to reduce your risk as mentioned above.

To get a personalized pre natal recommendation, in addition to other pregnancy concerns, I always recommend booking an appointment. However, I've created a list of Pre Natals available on Fullscript that contain (mostly all) active forms of ingredients. You can click on this link:
ca.fullscript.com/welcome/adrienne-deluca?preview=true and find the 'prenatal support' section under my 'favourites' heading. 

MY PRENATAL MAKES ME NAUSEOUS...
Unfortunately, prenatals can sometimes be trial and error. There isn't one brand or type of prenatal that all women are sensitive to. Try different brands and different types (powder, gummies, capsules, etc) until you find one that doesn't bother you. Aside from switching your prenatal, you can also try:

• Take your prenatal supplements with food and avoid taking it on an empty stomach.
• Take them in the late afternoon instead of early in the day, when digestion is primed and ready to go
• Take your prenatal supplements with something that's slightly acidic, like a glass of water with lemon juice, or a half cup of orange or grapefruit juice.

I FEEL UNCERTAIN...
Never take something without the guidance of a health practitioner. If you're looking to get a better understanding of what to take when trying to conceive, while pregnant, or post partum, book a free 15 minute discovery call with me and we'll decide if we're a good fit to work together. Book here.

*Post partum refers to 'the time after child birth'. So technically a 90 year old woman is still post partum! Every woman is different, and I always recommend getting in touch with me to determine when you should stop taking your pre natal. Some factors that determine this include your medical status/history, recent blood work, breastfeeding or not, etc.

Barefoot shoes have become super popular lately. Here's why!

Arch support was first introduced in the late 1800's and started becoming more popular in the 1970s. Shoes became thick, with inches of cushion & support between the bottom of your feet and the ground. The thought here is that our feet are weak and need to be supported. 


But our feet have 29 muscles. When we're constantly wearing runners, trainers or high heels that are narrow and don't let our toes splay out in their natural form, we begin to tell the feet to conform to the shoe we've put them in and just stay put. Over time, this causes misalignment of the foot, foot pain, muscle weakness and this changes how are hips and other part of our body move in order to accommodate for the feet. 

If you have upper back pain because you're sitting at a desk all day, and your upper back muscles are weak, you don't just wear a brace to keep you up right. You go to physio and get exercises to strengthen the muscles of the upper back.

If you have patellofemoral syndrome because of a muscle imbalance pulling on your knee causing pain, you don't put it in a brace for the rest of your life. You strengthen the thigh muscles to track the patella in the way we want and fix the actual problem.

Why do we think our feet need to be supported? Why are we not strengthening the 29 muscles of the feet?!

Barefoot shoes are gaining popularity as they are wider to accommodate for the actual shape of the foot. They are flexible, allowing your foot to touch & leave the ground in the way it was biomechanically designed. They also have no arch support, which may take some getting use to, but ultimately gives you the opportunity to build up the muscles to support you naturally in the way the foot was designed.

In addition to wearing barefoot shoes, being barefoot more often, stretching and strengthening the toes, and doing foot exercises will help strengthen the feet. You may notice once your feet get stronger that your hip & back pain go away!

There are different 'tiers' or styles of barefoot shoes that allow you to transition slowly to complete barefoot shoes. Some have more support on the bottom, or a bit of arch support, but have the wider fit. Make sure you do your research before committing to one shoe.

Anya's Reviews is a great website for more info: ​https://anyasreviews.com/foot-exercises-transitioning-barefoot-shoes/

The shoes I'm wearing here are the Wish I by Saguaro.
Saguaro Shoes sent me a free pair to test out and review.
This is my third pair and I would definitely buy more! They are super affordable compared to a lot of other brands. I'm usually a size 7, but for the Wish I's  "I WISH" (haha get it) I would have sized up. I find they fit a tad smaller than the trail runners and the sock shoes I have by Saguaro. They're still very flexible, wider fit, and super cute!

Food sensitivity testing is all the rage right now, and can be helpful for some individuals in identifying foods that may be triggering a myriad of symptoms. If you've been having diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, stomach pain, bloating, cramping, loose stool, diarrhea, brain fog, headaches, or other seemingly random symptoms, you may be experiencing a food sensitivity.

Food sensitivities are caused by IgG antibodies in food. This causes a delayed reaction of up to 48 hours since eating the food before you notice symptoms! Food sensitivities should not be confused with ALLERGIES. Food allergies are cause by IgE antibodies, and are life threatening. While food sensitivities may be uncomfortable and frustrating, they are not life threatening. 

There are tests available that many naturopathic doctors to test for IgG antibodies, therefore giving you a list of between 90 and 400 foods that you may be sensitive to. Many patients have found these lists to be helpful in knowing which foods to stay away from to see resolution of their symptoms. However, research on the accuracy of these tests shows that they are not very reliable. They may show foods that are not actually causing you trouble, causing you to remove a food group for weeks at a time that isn't harming you.

While there isn't exactly anything wrong with having these tests done, they can be pricey. The starting cost of testing just under 100 foods is $275+ tax, and there is an option to test more foods if there are specific foods you think may be causing you trouble. So it's really up to you, the patient, if you're willing to spend the money to try this route of testing, or spend less money but more time trial and error-ing what foods you are sensitive to. At the end of the day, it's whatever works for you, your lifestyle, and your budget!

I do run food sensitivity tests for patients who want to have it done, and I'm happy to go over the results with them and support them on their journey! However, if the cost is a little bit too high, there are ways we can identify food sensitivities through elimination. This takes a bit more time, but tends to be much more accurate if you're following the guidelines I've set out when it comes to elimination and food re-introduction.

Whatever way you choose to discover your food sensitivities, we always focus on healing the gut and replenishing nutrient deficiencies along the way, in whatever way we need to based on your individual health history. It may be through herbs, vitamins and minerals, incorporating healing foods, etc.

If you think you may have a food sensitivity and are ready to start healing your body, don't hesitate to book in for a free discovery call, or an initial appointment:
https://allsystemschiropractic.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/17

WHAT IS SKIN TO SKIN?
Also known as 'Kangaroo Care', skin to skin is placing a naked newborn on the mother’s bare chest and covering the infant with blankets to keep it dry and warm. Ideally, skin-to-skin care starts immediately after birth or shortly after birth. The baby typically remains on the mother’s chest until at least the end of the first breastfeeding session.

WHAT ISN'T SKIN TO SKIN?
Laying a baby on top of mother’s gown or wrapped in a towel.

TYPES OF SKIN TO SKIN:
Skin-to-skin care can start at different times. There are 3 main types of early skin-to-skin care, but please note this is in regards to healthy at-term infants:

1. Birth or immediate skin-to-skin care starts during the first minute after birth
2. Very early skin-to-skin care begins 30-40 minutes post-birth
3. Early skin-to-skin is any skin-to-skin time that takes place during the first 24 hours

​*For healthy, at-term vaginal births, immediate is recommended. 
For C-Sections, the typical time for skin to skin seems to be about 30 minutes after birth. 

​SKIN TO SKIN USE TO BE THE NORM:
Separation of human mothers and newborns started in the early 1900's, when birthing moved from home to hospital, and birth was medicalized. This is a complete switch from natural human history. In the past, infant survival depended upon close and virtually continuous mother-newborn contact.

Research consistently shows that skin to skin immediately after birth improves outcomes and is BENEFICIAL AND SAFE, yet hospitals are slow to make changes.

BENEFITS OF SKIN TO SKIN:

1. Longer and more effective breastfeeding, more likely to exclusively breastfeed, more effective suckling during the initial breastfeeding session
2. Less breast engorgement/pain at three days for Mom
3. Less anxiety three days after birth for Mom
4. Mothers are six times more likely to want the same care in the future when they held their babies skin-to-skin rather than swaddled, increasing satisfaction of their birth experience
5. Less crying– babies who received skin-to-skin care were 12 times less likely to cry during the observation period
6. Heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels were more likely to remain stable for baby
7. A beneficial increase in blood sugar for baby
   
   

These benefits are SO HUGE that the World Health Organization recommends that ALL newborns receive skin-to-skin care, no matter the baby’s weight, gestational age, birth setting, or clinical condition. Skin-to-skin should begin immediately after birth and continue uninterrupted for at least one hour or until the first breastfeeding session for mothers who are breastfeeding.

RISKS OF SKIN TO SKIN:
Sudden unexpected postnatal collapse (SUPC)
This is when a seemingly healthy infant becomes rapidly unstable within the first two hours after the birth, often during the first breastfeeding session. This happens in 3-5 babies out of every 100,000.


SUPC is most likely to occur when an infant has an internal risk factor, like an infection or heart defect, combined with an external risk factor, like exposure to pain medication or magnesium sulfate medication during labor or risky positioning after the birth. Studies have found that in 77% of cases, the mother or both parents were alone with the newborn at the time of the episode .


To decrease the risk of SUPC during skin-to-skin care:

1. Ensure your nurse or midwife observes the mother-infant pair during the first two hours after birth
2. Educate yourself on abnormal newborn appearance and behaviours—such as pale or bluish skin color, difficulty breathing, or limp muscle tone to identify it as soon as possible
   
3. Delay the use of smartphones until the first two hours after birth -so you are fully present
4. Elevate the head of the bed so baby isn’t lying flat/face-down on the mother’s chest
5. Ask questions about safe breastfeeding and check frequently to be sure that the baby’s neck is straight and nose and mouth are not blocked
   
   CAN I STILL DO SKIN TO SKIN AFTER A C SECTION?

​Unfortunately the evidence for skin to skin after a caesarean is lacking, although the evidence currently suggests there are many benefits to skin to skin after C Section (even if you can't hold baby immediately, within the first hour still has many benefits!) Here are my tips:
​

1. Your provider may not be comfortable/open to allowing skin to skin immediately following a C section. This is because babies born through C Section are at higher risk for hypothermia, and you may not be able to keep baby warm enough or be alert enough to safely hold baby. If you are very alert (only received regional anaesthesia, did not have a prolonged labour/are not sleep deprived) you can advocate for immediate skin to skin under the supervision of a nurse. Your provider may or may not be open to this.
2. If baby is not able to stay warm enough with you, you can request baby be placed skin to skin on your birth partner or family member in the recovery room, until you can get there to perform skin to skin (about 30 minutes later).

This is a brief overview and is in regards to healthy, at-term infants. Always discuss your plan with your healthcare provider to determine the best plan for your pregnancy. This is for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice.