We have lots of these babies here - my latest one was a cesarean after a
failed induction - which was traumatized on delivery (mom remembers baby
was "stuck" under her ribs and felt a lot of pulling and pushing during the
birth). This poor baby wanted NO ONE to touch it - ANYWHERE. I finally
convinced the mom to lie down (something she didn't want to do, as it is so
painful to get up afterwards) and put the baby on top to see if the baby
would seek out the breast. He did, "kind of", but they had to go home and
we lost touch with her (lots of moms go to relatives' homes and it is hard
to track them down.).
We know breastfeeding should be a natural contact following birth - but
when a birth has been so "unnatural", how to help these babies is a skill I
still haven't perfected...
Jeanette Panchula
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