I have a question about crying.  We have a baby born by c/s. Healthy and
full term. 9.5 pounds. Breathing difficulty so he is under the O2 hood with
respirations fluctuating between 60 and 80.  Two of the nurses stated that
they give these babies a bath to encourage crying and open their lungs.
They stated that the babies pink up after a good cry.

I have read that there is no physiological benefits to crying. In fact it
is documented that crying can be harmful in some cases.  Crying causes less
circulating oxygen in the blood and can reduce body temps.  Of course there
is a stress factor also.  Why would these nurses see an improvement in
respirations after a “good cry”?  Why would they see baby “pink up” if
crying causes less circulating O2?

I mentioned skin to skin care and some of the nurses stated that they have
never seen it work.  Well I haven’t seen any true skin to skin care at our
hospital unless I initiate it so I am not sure what they think I mean by
skin to skin care!  I am starting to bring up sts care more now so I am
expecting some resistance.  Oh well, I have a mom that was able to do a
total of 3 hours throughout the day of true sts care after baby could not
be held for 24 hours.  I know 3 hours does not sound like a lot, but it is
better than nothing!  Baby’s resp. rates went down and she is breastfeeding
well.  Mom loved the sts care and told me how baby woke up and lifted her
head and made eye contact with her and mom just melted!

Also, I was told a baby can’t breastfeed until resp. rates are 60 or
below.  Is this true?  Thanks again.

Christine Lichte, IBCLC, LLL Leader

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