14/08/2026
We already know skin-to-skin contact helps newborns regulate their heart rate, temperature, and breathing.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis, published in Pediatric Research in June 2026, adds another benefit: skin-to-skin care is linked to fewer postpartum depression symptoms in mothers.
Researchers pooled data from more than a dozen studies, and found consistently lower depression scores among mothers who practiced structured skin-to-skin care, compared to those who didn't.
One possible explanation: skin-to-skin contact is known to trigger a release of oxytocin, the hormone tied to bonding and calm. That release helps quiet the body's stress response and support emotional resilience during a vulnerable time.
Skin-to-skin is a cornerstone of Baby-Friendly care, and this is one more reason it belongs in every family's first hours.
🔗Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-05157-3
🌐 Learn more about Baby-Friendly care: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org