Jul 28, 2015
What is happening in the body—of both parent and child—when there is skin-to-skin contact? ..From the mother's perspective, it probably releases oxytocin. On the behavioral level, if you have a baby that is more relaxed and sleeping better, that's going to relax the mother more. The newborn is coming out of a very restrictive environment, so anything that simulates that comforts them. Being touched or hearing a heartbeat is familiar because they heard it in the womb.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/infant-touch/