When we ask people who have had children about the most memorable day of their life, they pretty much all say, “The day my child was born.”
When your baby is born, it tends to create an exciting and fascinating immediate bond between you and the baby. And fortunately for us today, we are fully aware of the importance of the first moments between a baby and its parents.
But don’t take it for granted. In a still recent past, people didn’t realize as much as we do today how important the first few hours and days of baby-parent contact are for the baby, as well as for the parents.
Giving birth to a baby today is very different than what it used to be 40 years ago. Not only do medical staff better understand what’s going on in the tiny body of the baby now, but they understand that the immediate bond happens right after birth.
We should also be thankful to the human side of the medical staff that delivers babies today, which has developed alongside with medical advancement. Only 30 years ago, doctors believed that babies couldn’t feel any pain and would operate on them without real anesthesia. Today, not only do they understand that a newborn does feel physical pain as a full small human being that they are, but can also greatly benefit from contact with their parents.
In this article, we are going to discuss those little extra important contacts that will make your baby healthier and happier from the minute he or she is born until the first few months, which will carry on into the rest of his/her life.
First Vital Skin-to-Skin Contact With Your Baby
Something that is practiced today right after birth which wasn’t done in the past is the skin-to-skin contact.
It’s practiced all throughout the Western world today because we have come to understand that it’s beneficial for both the baby and the mother.
Studies have shown that skin-to-skin contact helps the baby with the following:
- It regulates the baby’s body temperature.
- It regulates the baby’s heart rate.
- It regulates baby’s blood sugar.
- It regulates the baby’s breathing.
- It calms the baby and favors the first breastfeeding.
The first skin-to-skin contact doesn’t only help the baby, it also helps the mother with:
- Contracting the uterus.
- Decreasing bleeding.
- Stimulating milk hormones.
While other animals seem to instinctively know what’s good for their newborn, it took humans longer to understand some of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact between baby and mom right after birth.
Even though this involves the mother for the first few minutes to hours after birth, both the mother and the father can continue practicing skin-to-skin contact as much as possible during the baby’s first few months.
An easy time to continue practicing this closeness for mothers is when breastfeeding, of course, but fathers can take advantage of skin-to-skin contact while taking a shower with the baby in their arms, for example.
If your baby was born while you were unconscious or had to be taken away for health reasons before you could hold him at birth, it’s never too late to start as soon as possible. You can practice daily skin-to-skin contact for at least the first 3 months, and even after.
Breastfeeding: Health and Nutritional Benefits
Interestingly enough, breastfeeding seems to be only a matter of choice for some unsuspecting mothers, but the truth of the matter is that breastfeeding is part of motherhood, and it has never been intended to be used only when it’s convenient to the mother.
Sadly though, this is how some new mothers see it because they may value their body and comfort more than the crucial short term and long term health benefits of breastfeeding.
It’s not because they don’t love their baby, but more out of ignorance that they bypass this essential step in the life of their newborn.
Breastfeeding is not just an ancient way of feeding newborns, it’s much more than that. Breastfeeding has vital health and nutritional benefits.
Here are some of them…
- It helps the baby fight germs and viruses.
- It reduces the risk and severity of allergies.
- It’s a great fighter against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- It helps the baby fight against child cancers such as leukemia.
- It helps the baby’s brain to grow and develop better.
- It helps the baby’s overall strength and immune system.
But there is more…
- Studies have shown that breastfed babies have less learning and behavioral difficulties than non-breast fed babies.
- Breastfed babies are hardly ever constipated and have less risk for diarrhea.
- Breastfeeding helps the baby better adapt and develop a taste for solid food because the baby has been tasting food through the mother’s milk for weeks to months.
- Breastfed babies have less diaper rash and other skin problems.
- It also helps reduce juvenile onset diabetes.
There are more known and maybe even unknown benefits of breastfeeding. That’s not to say it’s wrong not to breastfeed, but it’s something you should definitely consider before your baby is born.
Communicating With Your Newborn Baby
Communication with your baby starts the day he is born (and even before that).
It’s very important to communicate with your newborn baby. You can do this by touching and looking at him in the eyes, talking to him, smiling at him, showing him around pointing at things and describing them as you go.
Your newborn baby is a person. He may not consciously understand things yet, but he already benefits from the connection and interaction to a degree that you may not fully understand.
Of course, communication with your newborn baby is not only for mom, it’s very important that dad participates as much as possible in the connection, communication and interaction with the baby during the vital first few months.
Conclusion
Knowing what you know now, there’s definitely a bit more to consider during the first moments of your baby’s life. However, the list doesn’t end here – if you have any other thoughts or ideas you’d like to share, we’d all love to hear them by submitting a comment below!
Disclaimer:
This article was written by a Starlight Baby writer, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the company as a whole. We understand and accept that different situations call for different sets of actions, and we never believe there is always one ‘right’ way to go about things.
Skin to skin contact was never thought of in the earlier times The minute the baby was born it would be taken away and brought back bathed and clothed. That was a mistake.
I quite like how today the baby is immediately kept on top of the mother for a skin to skin touch
The father’s role in this cannot be underestimated.
You’re right. If a baby is immediately given to the mother or put on top of the mother’s stomach, the baby will feel the oneness with its mother and will be immediately showered with overflowing love by the mother and father (if he is allowed in the delivery room). A parent seeing its baby for the first also brings forth all sorts of happy and overwhelming emotions that are difficult to put into words. Even adults love to be close to each other, so it’s the same thing with a baby and its parents.
Hi, I must say I didn’t know that skin-skin contact has so many benefits to our baby in its first hours of living. This is sad for me because here in my country the parents receive their child after a day from birth and only for a few hours. After that, the baby is taken away and bring back the next day. So, I’m guessing that our babies are limited from those benefits for a few days!
So sad to hear most people in your country are not aware of the importance of skin-to-skin contact. Blogs like this should be an eye opener to most people and shared as much as possible to educate parents, especially first timers.
I hope the practice changes for the better soon!
I think the reason why the majority always say the best day of their live is the day their baby was born, is because the whole baby making process is simply nothing short of a miracle..like you stated in one of your previous post..
Your first point on skin to skin is new to me. it’s the first time am hearing about it, especially the part that relates to fathers. I thought only animals do such.
The second point on breastfeeding is probably the most popular with everyone and essential too. Like you said above, it”s really heartbreaking to see 21st century mothers choose their body over the well-being of their newly born.
Bringing a baby into this world is indeed a miracle, Rumu. It is even said that babies are angels because they can repair a marriage or relationship that is going sour.
As for breastfeeding, it is indeed sad to note that some mothers are too vain and would not want to breastfeed to avoid sagging breasts. This is a very selfish act and not ideal for a parent at all because when you become a parent, you’re supposed to become selfless and prioritize your baby’s well-being before yours.
First vital skin-to-skin contact with my child is still fresh in my memory. How they lift her up from my tummy, her first cry and our first touch. This is the moment when the overflowing joy in my heart is felt. I was so lucky to be in this generation that nowadays medical practitioners and staff have this regulations. It’s very important psychologically . It’s a great fulfilling moment between a mother and child first moment.
Wow! Drawing from your comment, I guess that must have felt like the best moment of your entire life. I can’t even begin to imagine how it will feel like when I get to experince such. I can’t wait for mine.
Indeed, that is a very memorable event, sweetpot81. I guess most mothers never forget that special moment as it is one of the happiest days in their lives, especially for those who have waited for years to have a baby. I would say it’s very fulfilling emotionally and psychologically for both mother and baby to have immediate skin-to-skin contact.
I like this discussion, I myself have four months old baby. His my second child in my first child when she came out to me I didnt even see him that exact time, I also didnt hear her first cry or even how they clean her. Thats why im really dissappointed and sad that time and whenever i remembering it. I passout after giving birth to her. And woke up on my room without seeing her first. So in my second child I really make to the point that it will not happen again and it really didnt happen. Im the first one to hold my baby aside from doctors ofcourse and that feeling is really amazing.
My baby’s name is John Matthew, when I give birth to him last june I really see him when he came out of me. I feel him that very moment , I heard his first cry and even saw him while nurses are cleaning him. Thats also the time that the doctor is stitching me I guest but I dont mind at all my eyes are just on my little cute boy. My first skin to skin contact with him is like im holding a very fragile angel at my side.
I really hope mommies out there also experience my miracle time with my baby. Its really rejocing and being satisfied as a mother.
Babies are an interesting thing once they visit the family they are born into. It’s sometimes takes most parents by surprise how demanding they can be at the early stages. It requires lots of patience and serious observation to understand what your baby needs and is as well comfortable with. This article is quite interesting, I find the tip of skin to skin contact very true, babies loves to be cuddled.
when our baby was born, we were taught about kangaroo mother care. In this method of baby care, you will have to place the naked baby on your naked chest and warm the baby through your body warmth.