jLeigh0709:Do you mean was the baby placed directly on my chest after birth? If so, then yes, that's what we chose to do. It was awesome. At that point after labor and pushing all you want is to have your little baby to hold. I held him right away skin to skin on my chest and the nurses cleaned him up while he was there. I was able to start BFing within about 20 minutes after birth. It was a great part of the experience.
This. They put her right on my chest. They wiped her and used the aspirator while I held her, and she pretty much nursed right away. After she was finished eating the nurse took her for a couple minutes to weigh her and check her over a little better. My hospital really encourages skin to skin for the reasons you said, but they also said it's the best way to regulate the baby's temperature. After her bath the next morning they had me hold her that way for 45 minutes too.