Childbirth is a momentous time for the baby. He goes from intrauterine life to a life outside the womb in which the only thing he recognizes as part of himself is his mother’s body. So much so that at nine months after delivery they are known as exterogestation, or pregnancy outside the uterus.
In the moments after delivery, the degree of receptivity of the baby is at its highest levels. A sample of this, and an unforgettable experience if you want to try it, is that if you place it on your abdomen, the newborn will instinctively crawl up to your chest to feed, guided by the smell .
This gesture is known as a breastcrawl or crawl to the chest , although it is not actually a crawl, because the newborn is not yet able to crawl. Both have to be naked, skin to skin and the baby has to be placed face down on top of you, at the height of your abdomen. Guided by instinct, he will begin a crawling movement by pushing himself with his feet and arms until his mouth reaches the nipple.
The first hour is sacred
The first sixty to ninety minutes after delivery, even talking about the first two hours, is an especially sensitive period with great benefits for the mother and the newborn. A few moments in which nothing and nobody should separate them; any procedure can wait.
Early contact between the two favors the affective imprint, it is a time to recognize, smell, touch, as well as for the baby to start feeding on colostrum, the first substance secreted by the breasts with countless advantages for him.
This first hour is essential for the establishment of breastfeeding, a solid foundation for a successful breastfeeding experience.
In Babies and more | Kangaroo Mother Method: seven indisputable benefits for the newborn
