Any time I can, I tell parents about that first night at home, after a
hospital birth. I describe is as baby's insecurity in the change of
environment.  The concept that gets them ready to comfort, is that baby
doesn't feel *safe*.  And that only in someone's arms, or beside mother in
bed, does baby feel safe.  Over there in that lovely bassinette, the baby
doesn't know that anyone else is in her world, and she is so scared.

If mom resists having baby in her bed, I recommend that someone be assigned
to hold baby all night when she isn't feeding at the breast. On dad's
chest, in grandma's arms, or such.  I caution them that it is this night
that many parents give that "free" bottle of abm, because even after
feeding at the breast baby won't want to be put away from human contact.

A lot of holding, cuddling, talking to, will assure baby that this is, in
fact, home and it is a safe world. I tell them that it will probably take
only one night and day for baby to adjust to her new environment, but to
give her as long as it takes.  It is to no one's advantage for her infant
to feel unsafe.

Of course, I hope that the "human contact" at night will continue much
longer than one night and sometimes it has grown into the "family bed."
Often not, but the concept that baby can feel scared and holding is
assuring, goes a long way toward these parents' meeting their baby's needs.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, where it is obvious from all my posts that I am working this
weekend and *not* on vacation.  I have 5 new babies and mothers to work
with this weekend.
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