New York's breastfeeding rates are lower than the average for the rest of the United States, so the authorities have decided to act. If it was no longer allowed to deliver formula milk in the maternity baskets, now they have proposed to promote one of the simplest and most effective practices when establishing a happy breastfeeding: Baby skin-to-skin contact with the mother upon birth.
And it is that this gesture has become one of the most effective for the baby, immediately after childbirth, without haste to wash the baby or separate him from his mother for no reason, start breastfeeding, regulate its temperature, feel and It smells like mom… and in short, you will find the most welcoming environment possible at birth.
New York State will implement this measure that will affect babies born from January 2017 in their hospitals. In this way it is intended to increase the figures of only 44% of mothers who breastfeed their babies during the first six months (compared to 70% on average in the country).
Hospitals are urged for newborns to be delivered to their mothers to immediately initiate skin-to-skin contact, instead of making the brief medical examination first. Of course, in the case of any complication this will take priority. But if all goes well, the idea is that skin-to-skin contact help create a bond That could ultimately help make breastfeeding easier for both mother and baby, along with many other benefits, even in the long term.
Why skin-to-skin contact matters so much
The baby in contact with the mother's abdomen or chest instinctively looks for the nipple and the sucking reflex begins at the most appropriate time, right after delivery, so that all milk production hormones are activated. If in that initial time there is a grip on the chest, the first thing the baby will receive will be colostrum, which gives the newborn everything he needs.
And is that breastfeeding is the best for the baby during the first six months exclusively and during the first two years of life, at least, accompanying complementary feeding. This is recommended by WHO. Breast milk contributes to the proper development of the child, protecting it from diseases and establishing a special bond with mom. The benefits are innumerable. It even saves lives in certain situations.
For example, according to UNICEF data, around 77 million newborns do not receive breast milk in the first hour after their birth, and this deprives them of the nutrients, antibodies and skin contact of their mothers that They are essential to protect them from disease and death. In certain contexts, in developing countries, delaying breastfeeding increases the risk of newborn mortality by up to 80%.
In New York the risk of mortality is not significant, but with these measures they want to approach the hospitals that work to carry out good practices of the Initiative "Hospital Amigo de los Niños" of the WHO-UNICEF. These should adopt a breastfeeding regulation that covers the Ten Steps towards a happy breastfeeding, which includes the "Help mothers to start breastfeeding during the half hour after delivery" and it is vital that early contact between Mother and the newborn.
Recall that even in some centers allow skin-to-skin contact after a C-section, following recommendations not to separate mother and baby, although this practice is not the most widespread. Also, in case the mother cannot, it is recommended to make skin with father-baby skin since, as we have said, that initial contact has great benefits for the development of the baby.
Of course, for this measure to be effective, well-trained professionals are needed to inform parents of the benefits of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, something that is also intended to ensure with the new regulations. Luckily, more and more professionals are aware of these good practices, and mothers are increasingly separated from newborns and are being helped more and better when there are difficulties in breastfeeding.
So, although there is still a long way to go, progress is being made in this regard and we are glad that in a state like New York we try to give the importance it deserves to skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding with measures that favor it and that will be reflected in healthier children and happier mothers.
Photos | iStock
Via | WGRZ
In Babies and more | The New York maternity hospitals withdraw the formula milk from the courtesy baskets, The baby is born, how to start breastfeeding ?, He was offered to do skin to skin with his baby in childbirth and then charged in the account of hospital
