This is an interesting topic for discussion that Chris has brought up.  I
was also a bit surprised that it's use would be in any way questionable, but
I understand that this is sensitive territory for the previously abused (no
pun intended) and that those who do not directly work with clients in the
hospital don't wish to set them up for disappointment with unrealistic
expectations.  As one who does work with patients in the hospital, let me
first say that if I had to pick two tools that have revolutionized my
practice, they would be STS and asymmetric latch!  No doubt about it!  I
teach the importance of STS to the nurses when I do inservices and also when
I am called to help moms.  The nurses see for themselves how well this works
and I have NEVER had nurses who were unwilling to use it.  After a while,
their calls to me start with, "I have the baby STS and we tried...".  They
know to start there.  I think the work of Nils Bergman as well as talks I
have heard by Dr. Linda Black and Molly Pessl, support how very important
STS is to babies and parents.  In fact, mothers often tear up and tell me
how wonderful it feels to have their baby STS, it just hadn't occurred to
them to do it.  I think STS bonds the baby to mom in such a way that she
feels the baby is more truly hers and not the staffs.   
On the other hand, I had a rather disturbing discussion with a nurse manager
who stated that she always asks moms if they want the baby after it's born.
The reason, she said, is that after her own natural childbirths, she didn't
want her babies anywhere near her.  When staff attempted to put them on her
chest after birth, she would tell them to take the baby away from her.  She
said it was a response to the pain she had just been through.  I haven't
heard that response before.  Has anyone else?  This discussion also reminds
me of one of my favorite books on raising children, called How To Really
Love Your Child by Ross Campbell.  I like things simple, not a lot of rules
and his philosophy fit that criteria and made sense to me.  The three things
he said children (and all people IMO) need are eye contact, physical contact
and focused attention.  So, touch is a powerful force and people (children
and adults) act badly when they don't receive enough of it.  I don't think
its importance  can be underestimated and no hospital refuses to allow it.
Sure, maybe it can't be arranged right after birth, but that's not the only
time that it is a valuable thing to do!

Marsha, knee deep in canning season in Indiana!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations
as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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