It is routine practice that newborns are often separated from their mothers shortly after birth. While mother-infant separation shortly after birth is unique to the 20th century, this deviates from evolutionary history, where neonatal survival depended on close and almost continuous maternal contact (Moore, 2012). There is a great deal of evidence that advocates the benefits of skin to skin contact with initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. It is imperative that women be given the opportunity for early skin to skin contact regardless of mode of birth. Through the support of evidence-based practice, midwives can provide health promotion education during the antenatal period. This should include informing women about their unique ability …show more content…
Skin to skin contact requires that the mother and her infant be left in a quiet and undisturbed environment to ensure the success of this natural process. The infant is placed naked on the mother’s chest covered in a warm blanket and a dry cap applied. Most healthy newborns will instinctively move towards their mother’s breast and attach on their own. When a healthy newborn is placed skin-to-skin with its mother, a phenomenon known as the ‘Breast Crawl’ is initiated, this is where the baby moves toward its mother’s breast in order to locate and self-attach for the first feed (Girish et al., 2012). The DVD entitled “Skin to Skin in the First Hour After Birth: Practical Advice for Staff After Vaginal and Caesarean Birth” demonstrates the normal behaviours of newborns during skin to skin contact post birth. The video describes the nine behavioural stages of a newborn, including (1) The birth cry, (2) relaxation, (3) awakening, (4) activity, (5) resting, (6) crawling, (7) familiarization, (8) suckling, and (9) sleeping. The midwife will need to carry out specific observations and procedures, unless the infant is unwell they can be done while baby is skin to skin. Segments of the DVD ‘The Magical Hour’ will be played in the antenatal session to give parents …show more content…
A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of immediate skin to skin contact on primiparous women showed it was an easy, non-invasive and inexpensive method which increased breastfeeding self-efficacy and confidence (Aghdas, Talat, & Sepideh, 2014). Skin to skin contact immediately following birth reduces infant crying and increases the likelihood of successful breastfeeding. A Cochrane randomized controlled trial comparing early Skin to skin contact with usual hospital care demonstrated that babies breastfed more successfully during skin to skin contact immediately post-birth than if they were held swaddled in blankets, due to the extra tactile, odour, and thermal cues, provided by skin to skin contact (Moore, 2012). It is important that consideration be given to the significance of early skin to skin contact regardless of mode of birth. A literature review on the effects of skin to skin immediately following a Caesarean indicated an increase in breastfeeding initiation, a decrease in the time of the first breastfeed and reduced formula supplementation (Stevens, Schmied, Burns, & Dahlen, 2014). If separation between mother and baby is necessary post birth, the father can Initiate skin to skin contact to facilitate the development of the infant’s prefeeding behaviour in this vital period of the newborn infant’s life (Erlandsson, Dsilna, Fagerberg, &
In 1978, a neonatologist came up with the idea that would help with the shortage of resources. He thought that the contact between the mother and baby provide easy breastfeeding and warmness for the baby. This caused research to be started. There was research done in 1989 where they compared 35 infants that had skin-to-skin contact and 36 infants who had normal contact. In that study they found that lactation lasted longer in the kangaroo care group. The articles found that the patient with kangaroo care also showed less hesitancy when leaving the hospital. They felt better prepared for their jobs as parents.
In 1976 Marshall H. Klaus and John H. Kennell came out with a book called “Parent Infant Bonding”. It discussed their hypothesis that like other animals, there is a brief moment directly following the birth of a child where skin-to-skin contact between mother and offspring creates a strong bond. Although this theory continues to be supported by many, some criticized the process of Klaus and Kennell’s studies. Some of these criticisms likely came from their definition of a “critical” time period after birth.
He also suggested drying the neonate and providing tactile stimulation to encourage breathing, and covering with a dry blanket to maintain warmth. If after thirty seconds of tactile stimulation, the neonate’s breathing is not sufficient, paramedics should follow protocol for newborn resuscitation, see appendix (L) (QAS, 2014; Saunders, 2012). If the neonate is breathing adequately, leave the newborn with the mother and encourage breastfeeding, which stimulates the nipple resulting in a release of oxytocin which promotes uterine contractions (Stables & Rankin,
At Cook Children’s Hospital, NICU parents are not only seen as the parents of the infants, but they also incorporate them as part of the team. Parents are highly encouraged to spend as much time as they possibly can with their premature infants, to have physical contact with them by giving them kangaroo time, which allows parents to have skin-to-skin contact with their infant, as soon as the infant reaches the stage in which he or she is a suitable candidate to be in physical contact with their parents. Siblings who are over 3 are allowed to visit their siblings at the NICU at specific times of the day, and child life specialists help siblings understand what is going on with their baby brother or sister who is in the NICU. If they have any specific questions, the child life specialist is there to assist them. Families are referred to other institutions that will be able to help them if their facilities aren’t able to fulfill their needs. One of the institutions that...
Numerous studies have been done to prove the abundant health benefits breastfeeding has not only for a baby, but for mothers as well. When a nursing mother develops a cold, those germs will pass through her breast milk to her baby along with the mother’s antibodies, which may decrease the baby’s risk of illness. Research has shown breastfeeding leads to a lower chance of developing allergies, a reduced risk of obesity, and a lesser chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Nursing mothers tend to lose their pregnancy weight sooner, and have lower risk of ovarian and breast cancer. It can also serve as a natural form of birth control if the mother is exclusively breastfeeding. The New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding elaborates on some of the psychological benefits of
This study is a clinical trial that aims to find out the effect of massage on behavioral state of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. The participants were 45 neonates who hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit of Afzalipour hospital in Kerman. Parental consent was obtained for research participation. The inclusion criteria included all infants born with respiratory distress syndrome, less than 36 weeks gestational age and without of any the following conditions: contraindication of touch, skin problems, hyperbilirubinemia, anemia, respirators, chest tube, addicted mother, congenital and central nervous system disease. Infants entered the massage protocol during the second day after starting enteral feeding, because the initiation of enteral feeding means that the infants in physiologically stable [12]. The researcher determined if infants met the study criteria. After initial assessment, the infants were entered to the group. The infants received 45 minute periods of massage intervention per day for 5 days. Each infant received tactile/kinesthetic stimulation, 15 minute periods at the beginning of three consecutive hours. Each massage always started at approximately 30 minutes after afternoon feeding and provided by one or two trained nurses. The 15 minute stimulation sessions consist of 3 standardized 5 minute phases. Tactile stimulation was given during the first and third phases, and kinesthetic stimulation was given during the middle phase. For the tactile stimulation, the neonate was placed in a prone position. After thorough hand scrubbing, the person providing stimulation placed the palms of her warmed hands on the infant’s body through the isolate portholes. Then She gently stroked with her hands for five ...
"How Breastfeeding Benefits You and Your Baby." BabyCenter. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. .
Infant attachment is the first relationship that occurs between infants and their mothers or other primary caregivers (Craig & Dunn, 2010). The mother-infant attachment begins at birth and is considered by a group of...
After birth, babies immediately begin to establish a bond with his or her caregiver (BOOK). There are instances, such as childbirth complications or sickness; where infants are taken away from the mother immediately after birth. In sterile hospital settings, researchers have determined attachment activities, such as singing, “encourages the infant to strive towards maintaining homeostasis and internal equilibrium”. (A). By fostering attachment, the hospital “ultimately contributes to the infant’s psychological and physical development” (A). The child is able to receive warmth and empathy from the mother, ultimately increasing survival and stimulating physical development. (A)
Women do not breastfeed long enough. Although healthcare workers try to promote the breast method, many women do not continue with it. Breastfeeding does come with challenges; however, the phrase “breast is best” is the role of the nurse in conjunction with education. A mother a...
Mothers go through all sorts of stress. While parenting can be overwhelmingly stressful, it’s important to consider the possible implications of our actions and how our responses to situations can affect how our children feel physically and mentally. Recent research (2014) has investigated some aspects of how a mother’s physical response to a stressful situation could effect her infant. Knowing that infants can indirectly pick up a mother’s personal reaction can keep a mother aware of her actions and ultimately provide better care for the infant.
..., L. L., Groer, M. W., & Younger, M. S. (2003). The behavioral effects of gentle human touch on preterm infants. Nursing Science Quarterly, 16(1), p60-67. Retrieved from http://www.capellauniversity.edu/library/12593316
Looking at the development stages from Erik Erikson for the first stage infancy: basic trust vs. mistrust this is where the infant learns to trust or not to trust others by the care the infant receives or not receives (Christensen & Kockrow, 2011). Care for an infant is the basic need such as being fed, cleaned, and the most physical contact (Christensen & Kockrow, 2011). Being in the NICU it is hard on the parents as well the infant because there is a lack of bonding at first because all the risks to critical preterm infant. This causes the nurses to closely keep an eye on the infant and take care of the infant till the infant is strong enough and then the parents would be able to help. The NICU is a high stress environment that can cause the preterm infant to become depressed because the lack of contact (Woodward et al., 2014). Touch is very important for an infant it creates a bond with its caregivers this is why there is high promotion to breast-feeding to create secure attachment. Breast-feeding promotes social bonds with the mother and child that can build a connection as well trust (Flacking, Ewald, Nyqvist, Starrin, 2006). With premature babies breast-feeding is a problem because the baby is either in the NICU or in an incubator. So usually a nurse has to bottle-feed the infant at first till the parents are allowed to help with the
Advocating birthing practices according to baby's biological needs. Journal of Perinatal Education, 22(1), 8-13. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.22.1.8 Moore, E. R., Anderson, G. C., & Bergman, N. (2007). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online), (3), CD003519.
Attachment occurs in stages. The first stage is pre-attachment, which occurs from birth to 6 weeks. During this stage newborns get an adult’s attention through smiling, crying, babbling, and making eye (Divecha, 2017). Although, they are not attached to their mother yet, they feel soothed and calm when they are carried by her or feel her presence (Divecha 2017). The second stage occurs between 6 weeks and eight months. The infant begins to develop trust in his or her mother and relies on her all of the time. When the child is comforted by the mother, they begin to smile because they feel trust (Divecha, 2017). The infant loves the company of their parent or caregiver and gets distressed when attention is not given to them (McLeod,