July 23, 2007
Little Rock — Research has shown that when healthy infants are placed skin-to-skin on their mother’s abdomen and chest immediately after birth, they exhibit remarkable capabilities. At a heightened level of alertness, babies can crawl up their mother’s abdomen, with her gentle touch, to reach the breast. The baby’s touch and gentle massage stimulates the release of the maternal hormone, oxytocin. This begins both the flow of the mother’s milk and enhances her feelings of love for her baby. Finally, the baby smells, mouths, and attaches to the breast for a feed. This amazing sequence of events is an important design of nature for the survival of the human young.
New evidence has now shown the importance of providing this opportunity for mothers and babies to have a skin-to-skin contact experience in the first hour of life. Mortality rates could be less worldwide if infants start to breastfeed immediately after birth. Initiating breastfeeding in the first hour of life is also associated with increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding and longer durations of breastfeeding.
The Arkansas Department of Health is highlighting the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth during the 2007 World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, and the theme is Breastfeeding: The First Hour – Save One Million Babies. The theme focuses on the importance of protecting the environment that allows the infant and mother the optimal opportunity to be successful with breastfeeding.
Why is skin-to-skin contact after birth and breastfeeding within the first hour of life so important?
- The mother’s body temperature helps to keep the baby appropriately warm.
- The baby is less stressed, calmer and has steadier breathing and heart rates.
- The baby is exposed first to the bacteria from the mother. Her milk has already designed active protective factors to defend the baby.
- The baby receives the colostrum for the first feeds which is rich in protective living cells, antibodies, growth factors, and protective proteins to fight against many infections and reduce the development of allergies and jaundice.
- Touching, mouthing and suckling at the breast stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which is important to cause the uterus to contract after birth, decreasing the blood flow and stimulating the flow of the milk. Other hormones are also released to help the mother feel calm, relaxed, and feel love for her baby.
- The process of bonding between the mother, baby and family begins.
In “Baby-Friendly” hospitals, rates of breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding are improved. Such hospitals have policies based on The 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding which includes a step that calls for helping a mother to initiate breastfeeding within the first half hour of life for immediate skin-to-skin contact as well as additional steps for ongoing support.
Breastfeeding mothers in Arkansas can get information and help to ensure success with breastfeeding from a number of community resources: the county health department, community hospital and private practice lactation consultants, physicians’ offices, other mothers and La Leche League leaders.
For more information, call the Arkansas Department of Health, WIC Breastfeeding Help-line at 1-800-445-6175 or your local County Health Unit. Also visit the breastfeeding website at www.healthyarkansas.com/breastfeeding.
### |
