> Baby not separated from mom after delivery. Put to breast at some point in
cradle hold position. Mom draped baby blanket over baby's head for privacy,
with visitors present. At 1.5 hours age, baby found lifeless without pulse
or
>respirations, when her nurse pulled back blanket for observation. Mom
> unaware infant was in distress. No infant struggling noted per mom.


I find it worrisome that the mother was focused on interacting with her
visitors during the first hour of her baby's life, had covered her baby with
a blanket to nurse because of embarrassment in front of visitors, and was
not aware of her baby's status.  That first two hours is such an important
time for mother, father and baby to bond together, to gaze into each others'
eyes, have skin to skin time, and to establish breastfeeding.  And it is a
vulnerable time, establishing life outside the womb, getting independent
breathing and cardiac function and temperature control established, when I
think it would be inadvisable to be covering the baby's head with a blanket.
Perhaps this hospital would want to develop a clear protocol for monitoring
babies in the first few hours of life.  Visitors shouldn't take precedence
over the mother's and baby's needs.

I feel very badly for all concerned.  But sometimes a crisis like this can
be an opportunity for growth and for developing safeguards for other
families in the future.

Anne Altshuler

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