Skin-to-Skin and Breastfeeding: Nature’s Protection Against Postpartum Hemorrhage

Skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding trigger oxytocin release, helping the uterus contract and reducing postpartum hemorrhage risk.

One of the most remarkable things about childbirth is that the baby helps the mother recover.

Immediately after birth, when a newborn is placed skin-to-skin with the mother, something extraordinary happens.

The mother’s brain releases a surge of oxytocin.

This hormone does three things at once:

• strengthens bonding
• stimulates milk production
• helps the uterus contract

Those contractions are exactly what the body needs to safely birth the placenta and stop bleeding.

In other words, the simple act of holding your baby may be one of the body’s most powerful protective mechanisms.

About the Author

Lovetti Lafua is a midwife, biologist, and maternal health educator dedicated to restoring physiological understanding of childbirth and women’s health.

Her work focuses on
• mid wifery physiology
• maternal education
• traditional birth knowledge
• empowering women through understanding their bodies