An interesting commentary in  Keeping Abreast Newsletter 1996, 5(3) p.4 on an article by K. Christensson, et al.  The study "Separation distress call in the human neonate in the absence of maternal body contact" used 3 procedures.  For first 90 minutes after birth babies were placed Skin to skin with mother, or in a cot, or 45 min in cot and then 45 min STS with mother.  Babies STS did not cry, period.  Babies in cot cried in short bursts evenly distributed for the 90 min.  Babies in cot first 45 min , immediately stopped crying when put STS.

These same authors have shown that close body contact with mom increases baby's core temp, preserves carbohydrate stores & speeds up postnatal metabolic adjustments.  

Note that this study was 1996 - just 20 years ago :-b.  Time for me to go to bed, getting mouthy.  Pat in SNJ 

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