The Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact: Science, Bonding, and Fertility from the Very Beginning
The birth of a baby is much more than a medical event it marks the beginning of a deep emotional bond. Various studies have shown that babies who experience skin to skin contact with their parents during the first hour of life have a 176% increase in oxytocin levels, cry 43% less, and sleep twice as much in their first 24 hours.
This seemingly simple moment carries important implications not only for the baby’s well being, but also for the emotional experience of intended parents especially in the context of IVF and egg donation.
In this article, we explore why this type of contact is so important and how it fits into the modern fertility journey.
What is skin to skin contact and why is it so important?
Skin-to-skin contact involves placing the newborn directly on the bare chest of a parent immediately after birth. This act triggers key biological responses in both the baby and the adult.
Proven key benefits:
Significant increase in oxytocin (the bonding hormone)
Regulation of the baby’s body temperature and heart rate
Reduced crying
Improved sleep quality
Support for breastfeeding initiation
Oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone,” plays a vital role in emotional connection—something especially meaningful for families who have taken a more complex fertility journey.
Skin to skin contact in IVF and egg donation processes
In treatments such as IVF or when using egg donation, intended parents may feel uncertain about the initial bond with their baby. However, science is clear: attachment is not determined solely by genetics, but by early interaction.
Skin-to-skin contact:
Strengthens immediate emotional connection
Helps parents feel more confident in their new role
Reduces postpartum stress
Supports the baby’s adaptation to the environment
At an egg donation agency like Eggvise, we understand that the path to parenthood may look different but the bond begins from the very first moment.