Early attachment of a newborn baby to the mother's breast is recommended by leading experts and professional organizations in many countries [1-4]. Attachment - the first contact - contributes to the favorable course of the early postpartum period in the mother, early adaptation to extrauterine life in the baby and has a number of invaluable effects on the health of both.
Studies have shown that early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding reduce the likelihood of pathological conditions in the newborn period by up to 85% compared with children attached to the breast after the first 24 hours [5].
Benefits of early attachment for a baby
For a child, contact with his mother in the first hour after birth means:
- preservation and maintenance of normal body temperature
At birth, the child enters a relatively cold environment. For comparison, the temperature in the womb is 37°C, and the ambient temperature in the delivery room is 22-25°C. When in contact with the mother - her belly and chest - the child feels warmth and warms up [6].
- reduced stress and reduced crying
A child who finds himself on his mother’s chest feels not only warmth, he hears her heartbeat and voice, and smells her. All this is similar to its intrauterine environment and helps to calm, reduce stress, reduce pain and stabilize vital functions [7].
- reducing the risk of hypoglycemia
From the first minutes of birth, the newborn’s metabolism is aimed primarily at the breakdown of fat and glycogen reserves to ensure normal body temperature and the functioning of internal organs. It has been clinically shown that children placed at the mother’s breast in the first minutes of life have stable blood glucose levels and, therefore, are less susceptible to any abnormalities [8].
- Early latching means early initiation of breastfeeding
- stimulation of the sucking reflex in a child
- colonization of the skin and gastrointestinal tract with maternal microflora instead of hospital microflora [9]
- protection against infections
With breast milk, and especially colostrum, the baby receives beneficial microorganisms, vital active molecules and immune cells that contribute to the formation of nonspecific anti-infective defense [10].
- stimulation of the senses, analysis and interpretation of sensations
Immediately after birth and for the next half hour, a high concentration of catecholamines, stress hormones, is observed in the child’s blood (20 times more compared to an adult! [11]). In addition to ensuring the processes of adaptation to extrauterine life, these hormones contribute to the memory of experienced sensations, including remembering the smell of the mother and the smell of her milk, touch, voice, etc. Thanks to this experience, the baby easily recognizes his mother in the future [11].
The recommended duration of first contact between a mother and her child is as long as possible [12].
Theirs and ours
All this is undoubtedly useful information for a young mother. However, unfortunately, few people know about the impact early breastfeeding has on a child’s development. In civilized countries, they have long come to this practice, when immediately after birth the baby is placed on the mother’s stomach and with her help he finds the nipple. Until recently, in Russia, in the first few days after birth, a child “belonged” not to the mother, but to the medical staff, who brought him in for feeding every three hours. Fortunately, now we almost universally use not only mother and baby staying together free feeding , but also early skin-to-skin contact, when even after surgical delivery the baby is brought to the mother’s breast for a few minutes.
Benefits of early latch for mother
For a mother, contact with her baby in the first hour after birth means:
- reduction of the third stage of labor - early separation of the placenta
- reduced risk of bleeding
The first feeding promotes the production of the hormone oxytocin, subsequent effective contraction of the myometrium, separation of the placenta, and reduction in the likelihood of bleeding. And also oxytocin locally promotes an increase in the temperature of the mammary glands, which is an additional factor for warming the child [13].
- reduction of stress and pain
- the beginning of breastfeeding - the formation of lactation
- establishing a close connection with the child and understanding his needs
Despite many physiological changes in the mother's body, the baby's smell and touch also affect the bond. It has been observed in observations that if a child at least touches his mother’s breast (nipple) in the first hour of his life, then the connection between him and his mother will be significantly stronger. In the future, when in the maternity hospital, a woman will not want to be separated from her baby [11].
The meaning of the first breastfeeding
Imagine - for nine months the baby lived, grew and developed in his mother’s belly, where it was quiet, warm, and cozy. He constantly felt the beating of her heart, heard his native voice. And suddenly everything changed - the warm water surrounding him disappeared somewhere, it became very light and noisy, cold and uncomfortable. And most importantly, the beating of my mother’s heart has disappeared somewhere, she is no longer around!
Of course, this is a huge stress for a newborn. He will cope with it; separation from his mother immediately after birth will not be fatal for him. But it has been proven by numerous studies: those babies who, immediately after birth, were placed on their mother’s stomach and chest, then grew more active, healthier, latched better and slept more peacefully.
Important
The official position of WHO is that the first time a newborn is put to the breast should occur no later than an hour after birth.
Western scientists are convinced: if in the first minutes of his life a baby feels his mother’s caring hands and hears a gentle and familiar voice, it will be easier for him to build relationships with the outside world and people in adulthood.
It is also important for the youngest mother to put the baby to the breast early . When a woman sees her baby for the first time, can hug him, feel the warmth of a small body, the weak, still unconscious squeeze of tiny, tender fingers, the maternal instinct inherent in nature awakens in her.
It is noteworthy that after the first attachment, the first contact with the child, those women who had previously wanted to abandon the child changed their minds and took the newborn home.
Let's sum it up
So, in order to finally find out why the baby is placed on the mother’s breast immediately after birth and why this is so important, the following points should be noted:
- Early application promotes intense contractions of the uterus and rapid expulsion of the placenta - usually the woman in labor does not notice this moment. And postpartum bleeding goes away faster and less painful.
- When the baby takes the breast, the lactation mechanism starts and milk begins to be intensively produced.
- Emotional contact is established between the newborn and the mother in labor.
- Together with drops of colostrum, the baby receives everything necessary to protect against pathogenic microflora and develop the immune system.
- The baby calms down and feels protected; in the future he develops better and behaves calmer.
Imprinting is the name in the West for the connection that is established between a baby and his mother in the first minutes after birth . The baby remembers on a subconscious level exactly his parent and from now on is drawn only to her. He captures her voice, her smell, her warmth. From now on, there is a deep connection between mother and child that will last until the end of life. This is why early breastfeeding is so important.
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Why is the first attachment to the mother's breast important for a baby?
Just a few years ago, in most maternity hospitals, the first actions carried out with the baby after birth were weighing, wiping, measuring the head, etc. Today, medical practice shows that early attachment of a newborn to the breast not only helps to establish a close connection between mother and child, but also charges the child’s body for further full development.
Effect of colostrum
By taking the baby away from the mother in the first minutes after birth, doctors do not allow the baby to fully enjoy the colostrum. But the sooner the newborn tries colostrum, which is produced only during the first few days after birth, the sooner he will try breast milk.
Colostrum is not only a preparatory stage of breastfeeding. With its help, the newborn adapts more easily to his new life; it prepares the digestive system for the absorption of milk.
The consistency of colostrum is not much like milk, more like cream, and the color is also more yellow. The healthy liquid contains proteins, essential vitamins and antibodies, and in addition fats and sugar, but in the right quantity, which is why it is quite nutritious and well absorbed.
READ MORE: Colostrum after childbirth: what is it, when is it produced and why is it important to feed the baby with it
The very first drops, albeit in small quantities, are already able to protect the baby from possible infection. Indeed, in addition to the function of the first nourishing food, it envelops the mucous membranes of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing infection by pathogenic bacteria. In addition to other useful elements, colostrum contains immunoglobulins (category A is the most important), due to which putting the baby to the mother’s breast as early as possible is considered passive immunization of the child’s body. Also, this first nutrient liquid helps clear the intestines of meconium, and in addition removes excess bilirubin, which can cause jaundice in the newborn.
Contact between mother and child at the psychological level
The birth process itself is a strong test and stress for the child. Finding himself in this world, he finds himself in a new, unfamiliar environment; leaning against his mother’s belly, he hears the beating of her heart, her familiar and so familiar breathing, and voice. Having tasted colostrum, the baby seems to be transported again to intrauterine life, where it is warm and the love and care of the mother is felt, he calms down and feels more comfortable in this world.
The first contact between a baby and its mother remains forever in the memory of both. The baby looks into his mother’s eyes, feels and understands that he is not alone, that this is the person closest to him who will take care of him. These are some of the most vivid emotions for both the newborn and the mother. There is no closer relationship than the one that develops during early breastfeeding and the first touch of the baby to the mother.
What reasons might there be for postponing the first feeding?
Early latching of a newborn is the logical conclusion of a successful and correct birth. But childbirth does not always take place without complications for both mother and child. Therefore, there are a number of justified contraindications when the baby is not given to the mother immediately after birth. Due to the baby's condition, the first feeding is postponed if:
- the general condition of the baby is assessed below 7 points on the Apgar scale;
- severe asphyxia develops, as well as respiratory failure;
- injuries sustained during childbirth;
- the baby was born in the early stages of pregnancy or with underweight - less than 1.5 kg;
- There are congenital malformations due to which there is no sucking reflex or the baby is physically unable to suckle at the breast - gastrointestinal tract defects, maxillofacial disorders, heart defects.
On the part of a woman, the following problems can be detected:
- disorders of the kidneys of any complexity;
- large loss of blood during childbirth or bleeding after it;
- loss of consciousness during childbirth;
- damage to the body by tuberculosis;
- HIV disease;
- the presence of a malignant tumor.
In such situations, if the first breastfeeding occurs, it is only after the health of the mother or child has improved.
Early breastfeeding is beneficial and important for both the health of the woman and the newborn. This is an invaluable contribution to the full development of the child and the speedy recovery of the mother after childbirth.
Early attachment of a newborn to the breast: benefits for the mother
- When the baby takes the breast, the production of the hormone oxytocin and the birth process is completed faster - the uterus contracts and the placenta is expelled.
- colostrum begins to be produced more intensively , and then full-fledged breast milk.
- It has been proven that if latching has taken place previously, the formation of lactation occurs more quickly and safely, and it lasts much longer.
It is very important for the child’s immune system that these few drops of the first released colostrum get into his mouth . He himself does not yet know how to suck and is not able to - childbirth is not an easy process for a child either. That’s why obstetricians help tired mothers and babies. A nipple is brought to the baby's mouth and inserted. The baby will try to suck it, but even if it doesn’t work, it will simply lick off the colostrum. This will be quite enough at this stage.
