01/11/2020
Separating mothers and babies after birth instead of keeping them skin to skin after birth is still a prevalent practice in much of the world. It is common that mothers are told all sorts of false and even bizarre reasons for not being allowed to be skin to skin with the baby, whereas the breast crawl is the first step in making sure the baby latches on well.
The standard of care for all mothers and babies, healthy or sick, full term or premature, stable or unstable, born vaginally or via c-section, born in warm weather or cold weather, should be uninterrupted, continuous skin to skin contact. It is then that the 9 stages of baby behaviour will become manifest, as described in a study by A-M Widström and others.
Here are Widström's 9 Stages during skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth.
1. The birth cry is a distinct and specific cry as the baby's lungs expand for the first time.
2. Relaxation is a time immediately after the birth cry ends, when the baby becomes still and has no visible movements.
3. Awakening begins as the baby opens the eyes for the first time, blinks, has perceptible mouth movements and limited hand and shoulder movements.
4. Activity involves larger body movements, including whole arm motions, specific finger movements, shoulder movements, head lifting, and stable open eyes.
5. Rest could happen at any point during the first hour, interspersed between stages or as a transition between stages.
6. Crawling involves the baby moving purposely towards the ni**le and breast. It could be accomplished through sliding, leaping, bobbing, or pushing.
7. Familiarization is a stage at the mother's ni**le where the baby licks, tastes, touches and moves around the ni**le and ar**la area.
8. Suckling involves the baby self attaching to the ni**le and initiating breastfeeding.
9. Sleeping is an involuntary activity of the baby around 1.5 to 2 h after birth.
www.ibconline.ca
