Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Breastfeeding MasterClass Episode #1: The Nicest People in New York City

Breastfeeding MasterClass Episode #1:  The Nicest People in New York City

This is just a little anecdote I use to show the importance of skin to skin contact (AKA cuddle care) with mom directly after delivery.

So imagine you've lived your entire life in a beautiful tranquil place, a secluded farm house or deserted island, comfortable and secure.  One day a helicopter comes in and picks you up and drops you into Times Square in New York.  It's loud, busy, terrifying!  That's what it's like for a baby being born.  From a happy tranquil place to a loud room full of strangers and lights as they lay crying on a warmer bed being measured and assessed.  But imagine if instead of Times Square, you are brought to a nice, cush Park Avenue apartment with the two nicest people in New York.  It would still be a difficult transition but those people are there to help you through.  That's what it's like when baby goes directly onto mom's chest after birth.  Baby is able to deal with the transition much easier because he is surrounded by the hands, love, and voices he recognizes.  That's not even taking into account how much warmer babies stay and how much less they cry when they have cuddle care with their parents.

But lets not even think about baby right now.  What about those sweet New Yorkers waiting for their new arrival?  If they can't see him, he's lost in the crowd, imagine their worry!  When you see your baby across the room with nurses and doctor's surrounding him, of course you will be distraught!  Also, we are undermining your parenting abilities from the very start by basically telling you we can take better care of your baby than you can.  When baby is placed on your chest everything else in the room goes away.  The focus is like a laser on your baby and your partner.  Most women barely notice delivering the placenta and any post delivery maintenance that needs to be done.  And baby is right there ready for his first meal!  Most babies will breastfeed sometime in the first hour after delivery and if given that opportunity, do a better job with breastfeeding in the long run.  And moms, if you are not feeling well enough to have the baby on your chest after delivery, dad is the best substitute!  Babies can do this skin to skin care on dad's, grandma's, or any other support person's chest.  Anyone can keep baby warm and comfortable, the only thing that will have to wait is feeding.  But be careful daddies.  Babies don't care that your nipples are just decorative.  They may still try to latch!

I hope you enjoyed our first MasterClass episode!  Any questions or comments welcome below.


Boobie MasterClass

The whole reason I started this blog originally was because I had had a few patients recommend that I put some of my wise teachings in YouTube form.  Since I have a face for radio, I'm not super comfortable with that.  So I will occasionally be using this platform to post some of he tidbits I use in my education of patients. These will have the MasterClass designation in the title, so look for it if you want some excellent educational morsels pushed directly into your face holes.  First one coming later today!
Just because this is awesome.