What is the importance of putting a newborn to the breast early (applying immediately after birth)
Many maternity hospitals now practice early attachment of a newborn to her mother’s breast. Why and why is it necessary?
During childbirth, the child experiences extreme stress: he was just warm and humid, protected, and suddenly he feels cold, the moisture surrounding him has disappeared. Therefore, in the first place, it is important that the baby feels the warmth of her mother’s body, her heartbeat, and hears a native voice immediately after birth.
As soon as the baby is born, the obstetrician or doctor immediately, without washing the mucus and blood, put him on his mother’s stomach and cover him with a sheet or diaper. From the first seconds of birth, the baby is surrounded by mother's care, love, feels her mother’s tender arms, feels protected. This feeling of security is important for the subsequent development of the baby, his perception of himself and other, positive relationships with the outside world.
The first minutes are no less valuable for mom. It is in these moments that the maternal instinct awakens in her, the relationship “mother - child” is born. Not without reason, doctors note that when applied to the breast immediately after childbirth, even those mothers who wanted to abandon the baby usually take him home.
With early application, the process of completing childbirth is accelerated, uterine contractions are stimulated, as a result, the latter departs faster.
Early application of the baby to the breast contributes to a quick and enhanced flow of milk into the mother’s chest, and then longer lactation.
And only in cases of the birth of a premature, severely weakened baby or a child with breathing problems, early application is contraindicated.
It is very important to let the baby suck precisely colostrum. It is not a hindrance that the woman was injected with medication or received a cesarean section. Of course, the baby still does not know how to suck, and he has so little strength. Therefore, the doctor or obstetrician brings the mother’s nipple to the child’s lips and carefully squeezes droplets of colostrum into his mouth. The newborn cannot suck, but it is capable of swallowing droplets that have fallen into the mouth.
Why is it so important to give your baby colostrum?
Colostrum is the most powerful remedy nature has bestowed on its mother. In a few drops it contains everything necessary for the development of a newborn.
With the help of colostrum, the desired beneficial microflora enters the infant's intestines. After all, when a baby’s intestines are born, they are completely sterile. And if he does not receive beneficial bacteria from colostrum of the mother, then he will be inhabited by the microflora of the environment surrounding the child, in this case the hospital. And it contains, in addition to useful ones, a lot of pathogenic bacteria and microbes.
Colostrum contributes to the quick disposal of crumbs from the first vital product of a small organism - meconium (primordial feces).
Colostrum reduces the harmful effects of bilirubin, provoking the occurrence jaundice newborns.
Colostrum contains special substances - immunoglobulins that protect the baby’s fragile body from harmful microorganisms. Children who receive colostrum in the first minutes of life have stronger immunity. They are sick 3.3 times less often than those who were attached to the chest after a day after childbirth.
So, the advantages of applying to the breast immediately after childbirth:
This is happiness !!! Who agrees?
It helps to complete the delivery more quickly, because it enhances uterine contractions and promotes rapid separation of the placenta;
It includes the mechanisms of milk formation, enhances lactation;
Establishes an emotional bond between the child and the mother;
Strengthens the baby's immunity, reduces the risks of diseases in the future;
The phenomenon of imprinting occurs - the infant remembering exactly her mother, the emergence of a deep internal connection between them;
The child has a feeling of strong psychological defense, which will provide him with further positive harmonious development.
How to apply to the chest
Breastfeeding immediately after childbirth is an opportunity given to the mother by nature herself to establish a close emotional connection with her baby. A chance to make it easier for a newborn to enter a new, independent life. A chance to use!
I already have double experience in this situation) I agree that this moment is extremely important. For a child, this is exactly what life is worth starting with. My son did not just swallow a few drops of colostrum, he immediately seriously sucked and sucked his chest for more than an hour! At that time I had serious contractions of the uterus, which is very good. Everything came out of me completely and on time, nothing more was left in the uterus. Although a lot of people after our maternity hospital ended up in gynecology for cleaning and lost milk. In this regard, I am grateful to my son!
Maria N.
But there are also contraindications to early application. If a mother had a conflict during pregnancy (antibody titer) over the group or rhesus, then the baby will only be placed on the stomach, breasts can be given only after a few hours (maybe a day). I had it that way
Irina
I gave birth to two children in different maternity hospitals. In the first hospital, they put the baby to my chest right after birth, maybe they just wiped it on my chest, he smacked the nipple and took it for further procedures, there were no problems with milk then, the chest was constantly filling. For the second time, my girl was only shown to me, but I didn’t even think about clarifying whether or not she would attach it to her breast before giving birth, and so they didn’t give her to me, carried away, processed her and put her to scream nearby. I couldn’t take her, and for some reason they still left us. Only an hour later she was wrapped and given to feed.I don’t know why or not, but for the second time I didn’t have enough milk and I was able to feed the baby only 4 months with feeding with the mixture.
So I advise you in advance to find out whether they attach to the breast right at birth in the hospital.
I already have double experience in this situation) I agree that this moment is extremely important. For a child, this is exactly what life is worth starting with. My son did not just swallow a few drops of colostrum, he immediately seriously sucked and sucked his chest for more than an hour! At that time I had serious contractions of the uterus, which is very good. Everything came out of me completely and on time, nothing more was left in the uterus. Although a lot of people after our maternity hospital ended up in gynecology for cleaning and lost milk. In this regard, I am grateful to my son!
But there are also contraindications to early application. If a mother had a conflict during pregnancy (antibody titer) over the group or rhesus, then the baby will only be placed on the stomach, breasts can be given only after a few hours (maybe a day). I had it that way
I gave birth to two children in different maternity hospitals. In the first hospital, they put the baby to my chest right after birth, maybe they just wiped it on my chest, he smacked the nipple and took it for further procedures, there were no problems with milk then, the chest was constantly filling. For the second time, my girl was only shown to me, but I didn’t even think about clarifying whether or not she would attach it to her breast before giving birth, and so they didn’t give her to me, carried away, processed her and put her to scream nearby. I couldn’t take her, and for some reason they still left us. Only an hour later she was wrapped and given to feed.I don’t know why or not, but for the second time I didn’t have enough milk and I was able to feed the baby only 4 months with feeding with the mixture.
So I advise you in advance to find out whether they attach to the breast right at birth in the hospital.