I think it was in Sweden that babies who spent the first few hours postpartum in cots after they had suckled at mothers breast were compared with babies who spent the first few hours skin to skin with mother.
Blood sugar levels were higher in the skin contact group, temps were about the same. Crying time was markedly reduced in the skin contact group. Researchers concluded that babies could maintain normal body temperature in cots but that the metabolic cost of doing so was considerable, and could put them at risk for hypoglycemia. The phyisologic norm seemed to be skin contact with mother.
They reported these findings in an unsurprised way.
Rachel Myr
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