The technique of skin-to-skin is practiced all over the world by many health care practitioners. So what is this skin-to-skin all about? I have been asked that many times over, in the last few months, so I feel it is the perfect way to start our conversation. The skin-to-skin technique is the manner in which your baby experiences its first moments after being born. In many countries that practice this method of being born, the moment that a baby is born, the baby is placed skin-to-skin with its mother and allowed to stay there exploring for however long it wants to; typically for the first hour or two (in C-section deliveries) or until the first breastfeeding has occurred. This is not a rushed, latch-on to the breast event, but rather a calm and most importantly baby-led experience. This is actually the best possible start to breastfeeding. Mothers who have had the opportunity to experience this technique have considerably more milk on day three or four, when the "milk comes in". In addition to getting breastfeeding off to a great start, there are so many other important benefits to doing this. Mother and baby bonding is accelerated and strengthened; in pre-term babies cases, it is sometimes referred to as "Kangaroo Care" and has had a tremendous impact on the positive outcomes of pre-term infants. The increase of warmth is greater skin-to-skin on the mother; it has been known to stabilize the babies heartbeat, and results in decreased crying and stress on the infant. Dads can even do skin-to-skin. If you think about it, this method is quite natural and normal. The baby has spent almost 10 months in their mother's tummy developing. Why wouldn't they want to stay next to their mommies? The reality is that babies need to be with their mothers, just as they need to feed. In decades past, this would have been the manner in which all children were born. Technology improvements have maybe changed this natural way of allowing a mother and baby to be together during the first moments after birth. That being said, don't get me wrong, thank goodness for technology advances. They have been responsible for so many positive outcomes.Here's the great news. We have many talented healthcare professionals who currently practice (skin-to-skin) here. They realize the benefits of the skin-to-skin technique and are happy to allow this method after delivery (provided that the baby is healthy). I empower you to experience this method of skin-to-skin. Even in normal C-section cases this can be done. So talk to your health care professionals and ask about skin-to-skin.
Love and hugs!
Source: www.healthychildren.org
o Bianca Carter is a certified lactation counselor (CLC) and founder and CEO of Bun in the Oven. For more information telephone 601-6977 and visit us at the Harbour Bay Shopping Plaza next to Starbucks. Follow us on facebook at babybunintheoven; email us at info@babybunintheoven.com.
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