Bonding: Why the first skin contact with your baby is so important
June 25, 2025
10 min
It is a unique moment that parents never forget: the first time they feel their newborn baby - tiny, warm, full of life. This first contact is more than just a moving moment. It is the beginning of a deep emotional bond between the child and its parents. In our obstetrics and neonatology department at Zollikerberg Hospital, we do everything we can to ensure that these first moments are calm, intimate and undisturbed.
Bonding explained: Closeness that creates trust
You can strengthen your bond with your child in a natural way during pregnancy. When you gently stroke your belly, talk to your baby or connect with him or her mentally, hormonal and emotional processes are stimulated that promote trust and closeness between you and your child.
The first hour after birth is particularly important - often referred to as the "golden hour". During this time, skin-to-skin contact unfolds its full effect: your baby becomes calm, hears your heartbeat, feels your warmth and feels safe. At the same time, your body releases more oxytocin, a hormone that supports the start of breastfeeding, promotes the involution of the uterus and strengthens your emotional well-being. Your newborn baby will actively seek you out and in many cases will find its own way to the breast. A valuable start to breastfeeding.
Bonding has far-reaching positive effects: It helps your baby to better regulate important bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate and temperature. The baby sleeps more peacefully, cries less and can cope with stress more easily. As a mother, you also benefit from increased self-confidence, less pain and a deeper connection with your child. Studies also show that children who lie on a parent's bare skin early and often react more sensitively to their carers in the long term and are better able to cope with stress.
How we support bonding at Zollikerberg Hospital
These first moments together are precious. They create closeness, trust and a loving start to life with your baby. Bonding is a high priority at Zollikerberg Hospital and begins immediately after the birth - provided the health of mother and child allows it. In this way, we create the best possible conditions for an intimate start to life:
- Skin-to-skin contact at every stage of labour: If mother and child are well, we facilitate skin-to-skin contact immediately after the birth. Your baby is placed on your breast in the delivery room . We also encourage early skin-to-skin contact in the event of a caesarean section or premature birth - if necessary, the second parent takes on this important role, with equally positive effects for the child.
- Uninterrupted first hour: We organise our procedures in such a way that the first hour after the birth is as calm and undisturbed as possible. This time belongs entirely to you as a family.
- Involvement of the second caregiver: The second parent is also welcome to take an active part in bonding. Skin-to-skin contact can of course also take place after the first hour.
- Breastfeeding support and personal guidance: Our breastfeeding counsellors and midwives will accompany you sensitively from the first latch-on to the first few days after the birth. Early breastfeeding not only strengthens the bond, but also supports milk production and the mother's well-being.
- Family-friendly postpartum: Your baby stays with you day and night. This allows the bond to develop in peace and quiet. Our experienced team of midwives, doctors and nurses are on hand to support you.
If you have general health insurance and would like more privacy, you can opt in advance for a comfortable standard single room including an extra bed for your travelling companion for an additional charge and subject to availability.
Blog article
Obstetrics and neonatology: hand in hand for you and your baby
Every birth is unique and we support you just as individually. Our aim is to ensure that you and your newborn baby feel safe and in good hands at every stage of labour. Our experienced midwives, doctors and nurses are there for you around the clock. The close proximity of the labour ward to the neonatology department can make all the difference in urgent cases.
What if bonding is not possible immediately?
In some cases, direct bonding immediately after birth is not possible for medical reasons - for example in the case of a premature birth, a caesarean section under general anaesthetic or if the newborn needs intensive medical care. Even in such situations, the closeness between parents and child remains a central concern. After all, bonding is not a single moment, but a process that can develop and deepen. In our neonatology department, we promote this bonding process in a targeted and sensitive way, for example through
- Early kangarooing: As soon as possible, skin-to-skin contact with a parent takes place - regularly and as undisturbed as possible for at least an hour.
- Involvement of both parents: Both parents are actively involved in the care, from holding and touching the child to feeding and nappy changing.
- Individual support: Our experienced team supports you in building a close relationship with your child - with sensitivity and expertise.
In this way, we create a framework in which bonding can grow, even under special circumstances. Step by step and completely personalised.
Clinic for Neonatology
Security and stability for the little ones
In neonatology, we care for premature babies from the 32nd week of pregnancy as well as newborns who require special medical attention. Our ward offers ten care places, which are occupied by isolettes, open care units or heated beds. In addition to our wide range of services, we offer parents counselling for problem pregnancies and carry out ultrasound examinations of all organs as well as non-invasive ventilation of newborns.
Start bonding well prepared
Parents can create important conditions for bonding even before the birth. Talk to us about your wishes and questions when planning your birth. In the obstetrics department, we are happy to take the time to organise an individual, needs-oriented birth together with you.
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