I do not have any possible scientific answer for this.  I guess the baby
being stressed is one way of getting he/she to expand its lungs (and
therefore push out extra fluid) but I can think of better ways!

The trouble with being born via the vaginal bypass route is that nature
dosn't get to do what nature needs to do.  There is a purpose for having
your chest cavity squeezed in the birth canal one way then doing a little
rotation to squeeze another way and that is to expel lung fluid out for
effective   respirations.

Without a doubt there is more TTN (transient tachypnoea of the newborn) with
c/s, especially election c/s.  And cool operating theatres do not help.
Until the mother is able to do skin to skin "our" babies are usually placed
prone under a radiant heater, with the neck slightly extended, soothed and
quietened by their fathers voice and the babies "blow out" their excess
fluid quite well.  This pinks them up beautifully.  By the time they are in
Mum or dads arms (in recovery) they are usually pink, have settled breathing
and mouthing around looking for some food.

We are working on achieving skin to skin in theatre during c/s procedure -
having some success.

I think this may be another nasty nursery habit that needs to be replaced
with something a bit more consumer friendly.

karen palmer
midwife
new zealand


----- Original Message -----
From: "Christine Lichte" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 10:21 AM
Subject: Benefits of crying???


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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