Bonding and Attachment between a Mother and her Newborn...
is crucial by Divine design. When the newborn is laid on the mother's chest, her body temperature begins to regulate so that her baby will stay warm. The contact with her body will also regulate the newborn's respiration and oxygen levels along with reducing crying, and increasing the newborns alertness, because of the ocytocin is being relased. (Phillips, 2013) Oxytocin is referred to as the LOVE hormone sinse it gives the mother the ability to love, hold, and kiss her baby. (Moore, Anderson, Bergman, & Dowswell, 2012)
Babies start communicating as soon as they are born, when separated from mother they will cry or manifest with intense activity. They don't have a perception of time like we do, and they see that time away as possibly life threatening, and that is an emotion that we don't want the baby to experience. The mother and baby bonding shouldn't be interrupted if at all possible within the first hour. During this time the baby is going to initiate breastfeeding and skin-to-skin will activate the amygdala via the prefronto-orbital pathway that helps mature the brain structure. (Phillips, 2013) As the baby refines their motor skills on the chest they look at their mother and this ignites the visual part of the brain as well as the sensory region effecting smell and touch. (Hawkins, 2010)
Babies start communicating as soon as they are born, when separated from mother they will cry or manifest with intense activity. They don't have a perception of time like we do, and they see that time away as possibly life threatening, and that is an emotion that we don't want the baby to experience. The mother and baby bonding shouldn't be interrupted if at all possible within the first hour. During this time the baby is going to initiate breastfeeding and skin-to-skin will activate the amygdala via the prefronto-orbital pathway that helps mature the brain structure. (Phillips, 2013) As the baby refines their motor skills on the chest they look at their mother and this ignites the visual part of the brain as well as the sensory region effecting smell and touch. (Hawkins, 2010)
Oxycontin,“decreasing maternal anxiety and increasing calmness and social responsiveness” |  |
www.scienceofrelationships.com There are situations when a mother can't have skin-to-skin contact with her baby, for example: cesarean birth. However, it has been shown that as little as 15 minutes of skin-to-skin, in contrast to those who were separated from their baby, felt confident and comfortable handling their baby before leaving the hospital (Phillips, 2013). So there are benefits for the mother as well.
It comes back to that love hormone, Oxycontin
These benefits don't stop after the first hour, in fact they can last throughout the whole breastfeeding relationship. Skin-to-skin time during the first hour, days, and weeks also establishes your milk production and has lasting implications on your breast-feeding relationship.
It comes back to that love hormone, Oxycontin
- Decreasing maternal anxiety
- Increasing calmness
- Increasing social responsiveness
- Reducing fear
- Reducing physical pain
These benefits don't stop after the first hour, in fact they can last throughout the whole breastfeeding relationship. Skin-to-skin time during the first hour, days, and weeks also establishes your milk production and has lasting implications on your breast-feeding relationship.
Midwives educate and inform clients about the benefits of skin-to-skin contact during the prenatal period and it is recommended for every parent. When families have an unmediated birth, for example homebirth the baby usually latches within the first hour. This first hour is such a precious time. I respect this hour and give my clients space to bond with their baby.
There might be times when we feel overwhelmed by difficulties that often accompany motherhood. We may even feel tied down, but we can embrace this incredible experience as life changing and special, valuable and fulfilling ... for who will we love more than our precious babies? What could we possible do that is more important? Our babies are priceless so embrace the cuddle!!
There might be times when we feel overwhelmed by difficulties that often accompany motherhood. We may even feel tied down, but we can embrace this incredible experience as life changing and special, valuable and fulfilling ... for who will we love more than our precious babies? What could we possible do that is more important? Our babies are priceless so embrace the cuddle!!
Christian, Wife, Mother, |  |
References :
Phillips, R. (2013). Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, 13(2), 67-72. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806325_10
Moore, E. R., Anderson, G. C., Bergman, N., & Dowswell, T. (2012). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Issue 5), 1-112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub3. (Moore, Anderson, Bergman, & Dowswell, 2012)
Hawkins, S. (2010, September ). The midwife’s role in facilitating maternal-infant bonding and attachment. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 20:3 2010, 20(3), 355–360.
Picture Of Heart: Retrieved from http://supplementpolice.com/oxytocin/
Phillips, R. (2013). Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, 13(2), 67-72. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806325_10
Moore, E. R., Anderson, G. C., Bergman, N., & Dowswell, T. (2012). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Issue 5), 1-112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub3. (Moore, Anderson, Bergman, & Dowswell, 2012)
Hawkins, S. (2010, September ). The midwife’s role in facilitating maternal-infant bonding and attachment. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 20:3 2010, 20(3), 355–360.
Picture Of Heart: Retrieved from http://supplementpolice.com/oxytocin/
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