New parents are always looking for ways to ensure their kids are healthy and happy in their lives. The Sunrise Health Region and the Yorkton Tribal Council are promoting Skin to Skin as a way to get mothers and children to bond, and the many health benefits that come from skin to skin contact.
One of the ways skin to skin is being promoted is through the Skin2Skin Colla-bora-tive photo contest. Six mothers and their children were chosen for their images of skin to skin contact, and these posters are being placed around the health region. There will also be a billboard coming that further promotes the practice. The mothers and children featured are Krystal Spray and Hailey, Jennifer Haas and Kayden, Stacey Tress and Julie, Bonnie Rodgers and Colt, Joanne Fourier and Andre, and Joani Litchfield and Oliver. Each of the mothers spoke about their experience with skin to skin, and the ways which it has helped them with their children, whether it was assisting them with breast feeding or helping calm and comfort their babies.
Heidi Russell with the Sunrise Health Region says that the posters are a way to get people more aware of the advantages of skin to skin. She says it's a good way to help nurture the baby, and it can help regulate their temperature, heart rate, respiration and blood sugar. She says for the mother, it helps them bond with their new child and releases maternal hormones that help them breast feed more successfully.
"As an LC working on the wards if there ever seems to be a complicated thing going on, whether it was associated with labor or delivery, or there was difficulty getting breast feeding going, I have found that putting babies skin to skin on a mom's chest really helps. It establishes a good relationship and a good breast feeding relationship," Russell says.
Russell says that the contest was successful overall, with 22 entries which she says were difficult to decide between. She says many of the photos will be used in other educational materials promoting the practice.
