Lisa writes;
>>Five months ago I had a spontaneous, uncomplicated, unmedicated hospital
birth.  My OB immediately laid my son in my arms, but he cried softly for
several minutes.  I wanted to settle him and wait  for APGARs, ect. before
he went to breast.  I asked my nurse to help me get my gown off because I
wanted to be skin to skin w/ him.  Within seconds of making contact with my
skin,  he turned his head toward my breast, with his mouth and eyes wide
open.  After positioning him (he was VERY slippery), he nursed on and off
for several hours before he slept.  He most definitely  swallowed
frequently, and when I hand expressed colostrum  (just for fun), it sprayed
him in the face.

The nurses were watching us the whole time, and they couldn't get over how
quickly he was ready to breastfeed, and how alert he was.<<

How sad that these nurses were surprised at this very typical reaction of a
newborn!
When I worked as an RN at a freestanding birth center, this description was
the rule not the exception!
For future reference Lisa, you do NOT have to wait for apgar scores to be
done before putting baby to breast. They are done just as easily at breast as
anywhere else!
Lynn Shea Rn,Bsn,Ibclc
Franklin,Massachusetts

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