There are lots of articles out there on the benefits of skin-to-skin. Studies have been done. The benefits have been listed. I’ll let you use Google to find out more on all of that. I just want to tell you my own experience.
My daughter was born last week. Her 1 week birthday is today. She’s a glorious little being and I’m in love with her. On her first day of life outside her Mommy, I held her close to me, skin-to-skin, in the dim light of the NICU and felt love swelling to embrace us both; my little girl and I together for the first day of a lifelong journey together.
And daily since, we rest together – she on my chest breathing softly and cooing. Her warm skin the softest thing ever against mine. Our hearts beating in conversation with one another. Our energy flowing together. These moments are the most precious and cherished moments imaginable. Her heart beats out a rhythm; “I put myself in your care, I love you, trust you, depend on you, need you, believe in you”. My heart beats back in answer; “I love you, I will protect you, I will nurture and support and guide you, I am always here for you, I believe in you, I will give my all for you”. Lub-dub, Lub-dub, Lub-dub….. our hearts beat on.
My two older daughters, now ten and seven, held this same conversation with me. Just like her, I held them close and we spent these quiet moments in pools of sunshine on those newborn days and days well beyond. Even my younger sister – now 25 years old and living an adventurous life of her own – spent this time with me all those years ago. In a blink, years and decades pass. These brand-new little moments of life. These first steps along their journey, are so fleeting and so magical. These are gifts. And by receiving these gifts we give them in return. We ground our children firmly in a deeply-felt sense of connection. We assure them with our hearts, our bodies, our souls; they are loved and they are cherished and they are supported. We build for them a foundation for their Bigness. And in doing so, we swim in the deepest waters of Bigness ourselves. For me, there is no Bigger Bigness than the Bigness of Being Daddy – and in these quiet little moments it swells beyond imaginable proportion. I don’t need any study or listing of the benefits. My heart tells me what I need to know…. Lub-dub, Lub-dub, Lub-dub.
Skin-to-skin isn’t just an important thing to consider for breastfeeding and motherly bonding – it’s also for all of us Daddies. It’s for baby. It’s for the journey, for their lives, for our experience of the miracle and for the beauty of Daddyhood. It’s for Bigness. If you’re a Daddy – don’t let these precious quiet moments pass you by.
~KG~