For nine months the baby experiences life in the mother’s womb and gradually becomes tuned to happenings surrounding it. His mother and father’s voices, sounds of various “things”, emotions of his mother, effects of mother’s diet or medications, all are experienced by the baby. As he gets ready to leave the familiar “home” which is his mother’s womb, the baby makes the journey down the birth canal, supported by mother’s hormones and contractions of her uterine muscles. Nature’s helpers, Oxytocin and other hormones are on hand helping baby make this journey, and if mother and baby are well supported by care givers, in most cases birth happens naturally, and spontaneously.
But what about after birth? Studies have shown us that baby is wide awake for a few moments after birth, taking in the sights and smells of its new surroundings. Typical hospitals immediately whisk the baby away and subject it to a variety of procedures such as suctioning of fluids, cleaning, etc. This in itself is traumatic for a baby which has just experienced stress of leaving its mother’s womb which was its home for nine months. Babies need to be handled ever so gently immediately after birth, so that they can ease into their unfamiliar surroundings. Subjecting them to rough handline may make their birth traumatic, which may also have long term implications on their psychological and physical well being. Rough handling of newborns may shock them into crying even before their lungs are clear, which may lead to respiratory distress. Some hospitals even cut the newborn’s nails immediately after birth, as if they are presenting a pristine and well groomed baby to their families. Such actions only serve to harm the baby.
So what should care givers do immediately after the baby’s birth? The Midwifery Model of Care (that we practice at
Healthy Mother) recommends that babies need to be handled with great gentleness after birth so that their transition to outside world be made with as little stress as possible. The birthing room ligths should be dimmed, and people should be silent or talk in whispers so that baby can only hear his mother or father’s voices – something that he has been hearing for many months. Babies should be guided into their mothers arms and should be left on mother’s chest so that there is skin-to-skin contact. Mother’s body is the best temperature regulator for the baby, and babies should not be dried, especially the palm of their hands. This is because the palm still has traces of the amniotic fluid, and helps baby to seek out mother’s breast to suckle. Many babies do not cry after birth, which is perfectly fine. Many care providers hold the mistaken belief that newborn babies need to be spanked in order to make them cry. If baby is breathing well, then there is no need for any intervention. The umbilical cord should be kept intact for as long as it is pulsating. Transition to full lung breathing takes place over a few minutes, with the darkish color at birth giving way to normal pink color. It is not necessary to wrap the baby in blankets or put a cap or other clothing as it is only counter productive. As long as baby is with mother and is in skin-to-skin contact it is experiencing the best “warmer” there possibly is. He will be able to regulate his breathing better, and will stabilize his temperature better and have higher blood sugar than babies who are kept on their own or are wrapped in clothing or blankets.
It is our responsibility as parents and health care providers to make the newborn’s transition to outside world in as humane manner as possible. A simple act of mother just holding her baby close to her and gently touching or stroking him and talking to him will leave a lasting positive impact on him for the rest of his life. Birth should be gentle, serene, and holistic. After all, even most mamals have this ingrained in them. By treating birth as a medical procedure we humans are depriving babies of the humaneness that they deserve.
For nine months the baby experiences life in the mother’s womb and gradually becomes tuned to happenings surrounding it. His mother and father’s voices, sounds of various “things” outside the womb, emotions of his mother, effects of mother’s diet or medications, all are experienced by the baby. As he gets ready to leave the familiar “home” which is his mother’s womb, the baby makes the journey down the birth canal, supported by mother’s hormones and contractions of her uterine muscles. Nature’s helpers, Oxytocin and other hormones are on hand helping baby make this journey, and if mother and baby are well supported by care givers, in most cases birth happens naturally, and spontaneously.
But what about after birth? Studies have shown us that baby is wide awake for a few moments after birth, taking in the sights and smells of its new surroundings. Typical hospitals immediately whisk the baby away and subject it to a variety of procedures such as suctioning of fluids, cleaning, etc. This in itself is traumatic for a baby which has just experienced stress of leaving its mother’s womb which was its home for nine months. Babies need to be handled ever so gently immediately after birth, so that they can ease into their unfamiliar surroundings. Subjecting them to rough handling may make their birth traumatic, which may also have long term implications on their psychological and physical well being. Rough handling of newborns may shock them into crying even before their lungs are clear, which may lead to respiratory distress. Some hospitals even cut the newborn’s nails immediately after birth, as if they are presenting a pristine and well groomed baby to their families. Such actions only serve to harm the baby.
So what should care givers do immediately after the baby’s birth? The Midwifery Model of Care (that we practice at Healthy Mother) recommends that babies need to be handled with great gentleness after birth so that their transition to outside world be made with as little stress as possible. The birthing room ligths should be dimmed, and people should be silent or talk in whispers so that baby can only hear his mother or father’s voices – something that he has been hearing for many months. Babies should be guided into their mothers arms and should be left on mother’s chest so that there is skin-to-skin contact. Mother’s body is the best temperature regulator for the baby, and babies should not be dried, especially the palm of their hands. This is because the palm still has traces of the amniotic fluid, and helps baby to seek out mother’s breast to suckle. Many babies do not cry after birth, which is perfectly fine. Many care providers hold the mistaken belief that newborn babies need to be spanked in order to make them cry. If baby is breathing well, then there is no need for any intervention. The umbilical cord should be kept intact for as long as it is pulsating. Transition to full lung breathing takes place over a few minutes, with the darkish color at birth giving way to normal pink color. It is not necessary to wrap the baby in blankets or put a cap or other clothing as it is only counter productive. As long as baby is with mother and is in skin-to-skin contact it is experiencing the best “warmer” there possibly is. He will be able to regulate his breathing better, and will stabilize his temperature better and have higher blood sugar than babies who are kept on their own or are wrapped in clothing or blankets.
It is our responsibility as parents and health care providers to make the newborn’s transition to outside world in as humane manner as possible. A simple act of mother just holding her baby close to her and gently touching or stroking him and talking to him will leave a lasting positive impact on him for the rest of his life. Birth should be gentle, serene, and holistic. After all, even most mamals have this ingrained in them. By treating birth as a medical procedure we humans are depriving babies of the humanity that they deserve.
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