For many moms who give birth via C-section, one of the hardest parts is not being able to immediately hold the baby against your chest because of sterility issues. But that could all change if hospitals allow this new surgical drape created by three nurses.
Virginia labor and delivery nurses Kimberly Jarrelle, Deborah Burbic, and Jess Niccoli understand exactly how meaningful skin-to-skin contact is for new moms, and how that closeness should be fostered. So, they decided to do something about it, and after much testing, the Skin to Skin C-Section Drape was born.
READ: It’s Not a Birth Plan, But a Birth Vision
Why’s it so magical? It allows a doctor or nurse to pass the newborn through a portal that can be sealed afterward, which maintains sterility as the mom is being stitched back up. According to Medscape, skin-to-skin contact has many proven benefits:
“Mothers who hold their newborns skin to skin after birth have increased maternal behaviors, show more confidence in caring for their babies and breastfeed for longer durations. Being skin to skin with mother protects the newborn from the well-documented negative effects of separation, supports optimal brain development and facilitates attachment, which promotes the infant’s self-regulation over time.”
This is one barrier we’re glad can be broke down. While not every birth goes exactly as planned, why not make a new mom’s experience as wonderful as it possibly can be?
