Meet the Experts

Grisel Gigato

Lactation Nurse at the Center for Women & Infants at South Miami Hospital

Videos

Skin Contact: Benefits for Parents

Skin contact decreases maternal stress, improves paternal perception of stress, the baby becomes familiar with parents, and they have better breastfeeding outcomes. Grisel Gigato, Lactation Nurse with the Center for Women and Infants at South Miami Hospital, says skin contact gives the mom confidence in caring for the baby and bonding with the baby.

Breastfeeding and Skin Contact Benefits

Grisel Gigato, Lactation Nurse with the Center for Women and Infants at South Miami Hospital, explains that infants who breast-feed not only have greater immunity and nutrition, but they also have higher IQs and better social adaptation. She also says skin-to-skin contact stabilizes the newborn body's temperature, it helps to stabilize blood glucose, it decreases crying, it provides cardiorespiratory stability, and it also decreases pain in newborns.

Skin Contact: Benefits for Preterm Babies

Skin contact benefits preterm babies, because it improves autonomic and neurobehavioral maturation. It also helps with gastrointestinal adaptation, less crying and better growth. Grisel Gigato, Lactation Nurse with the Center for Women and Infants at South Miami Hospital, explains premature babies may develop inflammation in their gastrointestinal tract, and skin-to-skin contact and breast-feeding are encouraged, because they provide nutrients and immunity.

Maternity Care and Breast Pumping

Grisel Gigato, Lactation Nurse with the Center for Women and Infants at South Miami Hospital, explains if mothers are not able to put their babies directly on the breast, they encourage them and support them with breast pumping. She points out breast milk is nutrition and medicine that mothers are providing and only they can provide for their babies. She also says moms can breast pump next to the inhibitor or crib, so they can look at their babies, which helps in getting more milk.

Mother and Baby: Skin Contact

Grisel Gigato, Lactation Nurse with the Center for Women and Infants at South Miami Hospital, explains the skin-to-skin contact between the baby and the mom is important because it has so many benefits. It brings a special bond to hold your child you have been carrying for so many months so close to you. She also says the kangaroo care has that name because when parents are holding their babies close to the chest, they will put their shirt over the baby and it is like a little pouch.

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