Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth may facilitate reduction in which substance?

• A. Catecholamines
• B. Prolactin
• C. Oxytocin
• D. Endorphins

Answer: (A)

Skin-to-skin contact after birth helps calm the newborn and lowers the stress response. Catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) surge during labor to support cardiovascular and metabolic adjustments, but immediate warmth and tactile stimulation from being held skin-to-skin promotes parasympathetic activity and reduces sympathetic drive. This shift leads to a decline in circulating catecholamines, helping the baby stabilize heart rate, breathing, temperature, and glucose levels. While skin-to-skin also increases oxytocin—which supports bonding and milk let-down—and may raise endorphins with comforting touch, it does not reduce those substances. Prolactin is more closely tied to breastfeeding over time, not the immediate postnatal skin contact. Thus, the reduction most aligned with skin-to-skin is catecholamines.