Breast Feeding In The Delivery Room
Breast feeding your new little baby has been shown to give him important immunities against illnesses and diseases. And research has shown that babies who nurse in the first hour after birth receive even more benefits – as does the mother.
When babies are born they are wet from amniotic fluid and prone to losing body heat because of this. Some really amazing physical changes happen within the baby’s body during the birth process. While they were living in the uterus the baby’s blood supply was shunted through the umbilical cord. But when the cord is cut and the baby takes his first breath the changes in the pressure in the chest cavity help to reroute the blood through to the lungs. This increases the amount of oxygen that is transported around the body.
Sometimes the baby’s lungs are filled with fluid. When the new baby cries it brings the fluid closer to the bronchial tree in the lungs where it can be suctioned out in the delivery room.
Mothers who are able to nurse their baby in the first several minutes after birth are able to pass on important immunities to the baby that help to protect him against illnesses that the staff may be carrying. The action of nursing also helps to protect the mother.
When the baby latches on and gains comfort, nutrition and protection from the breast and breast milk it also releases hormones in the mothers body that cause the uterus to contract. These contractions help to slow the loss of blood and decrease the blood loss that mother may experience.
Mothers report that in the first hours to first two weeks nursing triggers what feels like mild cramps. These ‘cramps’ are actually the uterus contracting and decreasing the blood loss. However, it not only decreases the blood loss but also helps the uterus to regain it’s prepregnancy size more quickly and naturally.
Most babies are able to innately nurse in the first couple of hours after birth. However, at times they may be a little groggy from medications or anesthesia used during the delivery process. With a little patience both the mother and baby will be well on their way to a successful nursing relationship after breast feeding in the delivery room.
In one research study published in 2006 scientists found that mothers were more successful at breast feeding their new little ones and continued this relationship longer when the staff at the hospital were trained to help and support the new mother.
If it is important to you that you nurse your new baby within the first couple of hours then you should communicate those wishes to the labor and delivery staff so that they can make accommodations to their schedules. The staff should ensure the health of the newborn and respiratory ability as well as being dried off to prevent hypothermia but the rest of the weights and measurements can actually wait until after the baby has been nursed the first time and mom has held him as long as she desires.
Responsibility of the staff is first, and foremost, the safety of mother and baby. The measurements, weights, and gestational age testing can wait for a couple of hours until the first breast feeding in the delivery room has occurred. The benefits to the baby and the mother far outweigh the convenience of the labor and delivery room staff.
To make certain that you are able to nurse in the first hour speak with your OB/GYN prior to delivery. The doctor will most likely inform you that the staff will want to dry off the baby and be sure that there aren’t any complications prior to delivering the baby to you. This is, of course, acceptable. It’s your responsibility to make sure that the doctor understands and supports your wishes for breast feeding in the delivery room, because with their support you are more likely to have your wishes satisfied.
