I was at cabrini (sorry i know you asked about public,but thought my experience might help!) and they encouraged skin on skin immediately, and straight on the boob, including in recovery. Agree with wysiwyg though, if its an emerg c section, they might not have a midwife to sit with you in recovery, so the baby might have to go to the nursery until you return to the ward. I had specifically enquired about all this before my planned c section, and wouldnt have gone through with it if it wasnt that way!! Cabrini were incredibly supportive of my c section, and it helped me deal with the birth far, FAR better than my vaginal birth with DS1.

Jane.