Archive for the ‘Baby’ Category »
Some newborns will latch on immediately; some might just want to play with your nipple (not hockey or catch, just a little get-to-know-you session). Either is okay because at least they’re getting familiar with their new home.
If you feel cramping or pain in your uterus the first few times you breastfeed, don’t worry, you’re not going into labor again. Breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions, which is a good thing. After you give birth, your uterus is big enough to carry a bag of groceries in. You want it to shrink back to its old size (or close at least), and breastfeeding speeds up tlit4 process.
Where Are You Going with That Baby?
Make sure you ask why your baby is being taken away. Some “urgent” medical needs are sometimes nothing more than hospital procedure. Nurses can delay weighing the baby, though they will probably insist on giving an Apgar test at one minute and again at five minutes. The Apgar test is your child’s first S.A.T., so make sure he brushes up for it. No, actually it is a test developed by Dr. Virginia Apgar to evaluate your newborn’s general condition. Most babies pass.
The First Thing Your Baby Wants Is You
Remember the groundbreaking research in Sweden where newborns moved by themselves from their mothers’ abdomens to their mother’s breasts and latched on unassisted? If I hadn’t seen this, I would never have believed it. In the Swedish research, newborns who got to spend a little time with their mothers’ breasts were far less likely to have breastfeeding problems weeks later. Those who’d been separated from their mothers were often still having trouble weeks after birth.
Newborn babies seem to come with an instinctive treasure map that only works for the first hour after birth. Your breast will be the first thing your baby’s going to want to see anyway (after he’s seen you and your husband, of course). The more time you have right after the baby is born to hold, soothe, and cuddle him and introduce him to your breast, the better it’ll be for him. His innate skills will stay intact if he gets to your breast sooner rather than later.
Where to Give Birth
Where you choose to give birth is a very personal choice. Many women assume that there are no choices in where to give birth. The truth is you always have a choice. These are the basic issues to cover, no matter whether you choose to give birth in a hospital, a birth center, or at home:
• Location of the facility
• Payment options or plans
• Level of care
• Programs or specialty options
• Providers who practice there
• Insurance acceptance
Other advice for choosing a place of birth includes finding out about each location. Talk to other women who have given birth there or used a particular practitioner. The facility’s Web site and promotional brochures will also help you develop specific questions.
Consider taking a tour that is offered by a hospital or birth center, though it is also often recommended that you stop in at a non-scheduled time to see a regular day. This way you can see the facility in action before you make a decision.