10 Powerful Reasons Skin-to-Skin Deserves the Golden Hour Spotlight | CSRA Birth Photographer

There’s a moment after birth when time slows down. The room might still be buzzing with adrenaline, soft tears, or joyful laughter—but there, in the center of it all, is a brand-new baby, fresh to the world. And what do they crave most?

You.

Not a heated bassinet. Not a nurse with a clipboard. Not even that cozy swaddle blanket (although that comes in handy later). What they’re wired to want, instinctively and biologically, is skin-to-skin contact with their parent.

Labor is intense and pushes you to your absolute limits and just when you start to think you can't do it anymore, your baby is placed on your chest and you are flooded with joy and love and warmth. At least that's how it happened for me. And every time I got to hold my baby's bare skin to mine in those messy early days made the messes melt away and I am whole.

Now, I’m not a doctor, but I am a mother and a birth photographer—and I’ve seen this moment so many times. And trust me: It never gets old. So let’s talk about why this sacred, shirtless cuddle time is way more than just sweet. It’s science-backed magic.

1. They Can’t Regulate Their Body Temp—But You Can

Newborns are famously bad at keeping themselves warm. (Don’t take it personally, baby. You just got here.) But your body? It’s a literal thermostat. Studies show that a parent’s chest can increase or decrease temperature by a degree or two to keep the baby cozy.

Translation: You are the best heating pad they’ll ever have.

2. It Steadies Their Heartbeat and Breathing

Those first breaths are huge. And when a baby is skin-to-skin, their heart rate and respiration stabilize more quickly. It’s like nature’s way of saying, “You're doing great, kid. Welcome to Earth.”

3. It Kickstarts Breastfeeding Like a Pro

Even if baby’s only minutes old, they’re already putting those instincts to work. Skin-to-skin helps activate their natural rooting reflex, leading to earlier and more successful latching.

(And yes, they may try to nurse on your chin. Happens to the best of us.)

4. It Releases the “Love Hormone” (for Both of You)

Oxytocin, a.k.a. the “love hormone,” floods your system during skin-to-skin. It helps you bond, feel calmer, and (bonus!) encourages your uterus to contract and heal. It’s like a love-drunk multi-tool.

5. Babies Cry Less When Held Skin-to-Skin

Newborns placed in bassinets often cry. Newborns placed skin-to-skin? Not so much. They settle. They snuggle. They breathe.
Lesson here: You don’t need to do anything. Your presence is the comfort.

6. It Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

By reducing stress and encouraging early feeding, skin-to-skin can stabilize your baby’s blood sugar. This is especially helpful if you had gestational diabetes or a particularly long labor. Your chest is basically a calming snack bar.

7. It Builds Baby’s Immunity

Your skin carries helpful bacteria that “seed” your baby’s microbiome, which helps build their immune system. This early exposure is part of what sets them up for healthier days ahead.

(Reminder: You’re not just a parent, you’re a walking probiotic delivery system.)

8. It Supports Postpartum Recovery

That oxytocin we mentioned? It’s also a postpartum superhero. It helps reduce bleeding, encourages your uterus to shrink back to size, and improves maternal mood.

(Though let’s be honest—nothing shrinks back without some effort.)

9. It Boosts Baby’s Brain Development

All five senses are engaged during skin-to-skin: warmth, smell, heartbeat, voice, touch. It’s a symphony of sensory input that promotes early brain development.

You’re not just cuddling—you’re literally helping their brain grow.

10. It Softens the Landing Into the World

Imagine being curled up in a warm, watery, dimly lit womb, and then boom—cold, bright, loud delivery room.

Skin-to-skin helps ease that transition. Your voice, your scent, your heartbeat—it’s the most familiar thing they know in a very unfamiliar world.

So… Why Does This Matter?

As a birth photographer, I’ve watched parents meet their babies skin-to-skin countless times. It never feels routine. Sometimes there are tears, sometimes laughter, sometimes stunned silence. But always, there’s this sacred pause where everything else fades—and it’s just parent and baby, learning each other.

And honestly? It’s my favorite thing to photograph. Not because it’s picture-perfect (though it often is), but because it’s real. Raw. Transformative.

So whether you’re birthing at home in a quiet candlelit room or under bright OR lights during a cesarean, this moment belongs to you.

If you’re building your birth plan, talk to your provider about prioritizing skin-to-skin—yes, even during surgical births when possible. You might only get one golden hour—but its benefits can last a lifetime.

Skin-to-skin isn’t just for moms—dads can absolutely share this moment too (and should!).

If mom needs medical care, or simply wants to rest, having baby snuggle up on a partner’s bare chest offers the same incredible benefits: warmth, bonding, oxytocin, and calm.

I’ve watched many dads hold their newborns skin-to-skin for the first time—and let me tell you, it’s often the moment they truly realize, “Whoa. I’m someone’s parent now.”

Cue the tears. And yes, I’ll be over here snapping photos with misty eyes, too.

P.S. Let Them Have Their Moment

As the person behind the lens, I promise to document it respectfully, quietly, and honestly—because this is what birth photography is all about: preserving the most human, heart-opening moments of your life.

Still need a birth photographer in the CSRA to capture this magic moment? Click here to get in touch!