Hi, Chris: I, too, lay baby prone between mother's breasts - I call them
cleavage babies. Then we watch the baby. If the baby is interested in
feeding, within seconds the eyes open and the head comes up, with squirming
and rooting also taking place. Parents are astounded at how quickly and
easily baby begins feeding from the breast. I try to point out the
similarities between adult feeding and breastfeeding. I liken the time the
baby spends on mom's chest orienting himself to the time an adult spends
reading the menu in the restaurant or the time spent preparing food at
home. In both instances, the person is spending some time "thinking" about
feeding. Because a baby is so neurologically immature, this time is also
spent organizing his brain for feeding. I very rarely see the disorganized
head bobbing and on-off latching that is so frustrating for both mom and
baby, if the baby is allowed time on mom's chest before beginning an active
feeding. This time also allows for an adequate hormone surge in both the
mom and baby, when their hormones begin "talking" to each other. Remember,
breastfeeding is a "hormone-driven" activity, just like sexual intercourse
and childbirth.
As nurses in hospitals, we need to move away from task-oriented
breastfeeding to hands-off. There's that term again! Successful
breastfeeding is not determined by how much we can do for the mom/baby or
how much gadgetry we throw at them, it's all about the mother and her baby
learning together, with the help of their respective hormones.
Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL USA
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