Mary,
35 years ago, my son was born in a small hospital which was used only by my OB and his partner.  My OB was Dr. Harlan Ellis, who edited the North American version of Childbirth Without Fear.  Dr. Ellis was an absolute broken record on skin-to-skin.  He repeated it throughout every prenatal visit, saying how after the baby was born, he would be placed skin to skin with me, and that while in the hospital this was the best place for him.  

Imagine my chagrin when a nurse found me holding my baby up to the outside window so my mother and sister could see, and she grabbed him and wrapped him up into a baby burrito, just before Dr. Ellis walked in to see me.  I felt like a poor student, as he patiently "reminded" me that the best place was skin to skin.....  I blamed the nurse, out of her hearing.  I did NOT want to be in trouble with my OB!

Last month, a local pediatrician here, very near where Dr. Ellis used to practice, demanded to know why babies were being put skin to skin.  He professed not to have any knowledge of the research indicating better stability of temp and glucose.  Arrgh.

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