Danish Woolen Blog

Having been in the field of “mother and baby-ing” for almost 19 years, I sometimes forget that things which seem like general knowledge to me may be brand new for many people.

One such thing is the importance of skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby directly after birth.  In Sweden, where I practiced and where my children were born, it was natural and expected that the baby was placed directly onto the mother’s belly after birth.  The parents themselves were able to explore the baby and find out, on their own, which gender it was, rather than someone announcing it for them.  The moment belonged to the mother, to the parents.  Emphasis and honor was on the mother and baby.

While parents were getting to know their baby and calling family to announce the arrival, a festive tray of open-faced sandwiches & sparkling cider, served in champagne glasses, was prepared and presented to them to celebrate the birth of their baby.  Baby breastfed freely, and only after all of this did the parents join in on the weighing of the baby, and dressing it for the first time.

One important “function” of this initial prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which often is not mentioned, is one that is even less easily seen.  When the baby is placed on the mother, the baby’s skin is then colonized with the same bacteria as its mother, a protective barrier.  Within her milk circulate all the antibodies she’s developed based on what is in her environment … a second layer of protection for her baby, perfectly matching what her baby may face.

Just think of hospitals whose procedure it is to whisk the baby away,  weigh it, bundle it, while the mother is being sutured, thinking they’re being helpful and efficient.  Which bacteria have just made a home on your baby’s skin?  The hospital’s!

In our haste and belief in technological advances as the only answer to improving birth statistics and babies’ health, we often overlook the intricate systems developed in nature to promote the survival of our species.  Simplicity can be grand!

As a lactation consultant, my ultimate goal is to enlighten women about the benefits of breastfeeding and to help them achieve the goal of breastfeeding their baby with ease.

Many people, whether or not they choose to breastfeed, are aware that breastfeeding is beneficial in ways that bottle-feeding with formula simply can’t match. But beyond that, the details can become a bit fuzzy.

Here are some breast milk facts, as outlined by the United States Breastfeeding Committee (www.usbreastfeeding.org) in their publication Benefits of Breastfeeding.

Breastmilk…

- contains an ideal balance of nutrients that the infant can easily digest
- changes over time, and even over the course of a day, to meet the changing needs of the growing child
- contains substances essential for optimal development of the infant’s brain, with effects on both cognitive and visual function
- supplies growth factors that combine to mature the infant gut
- provides the infant with immune factors manufactured to fight allergens and illnesses specific to the mother’s and infant’s environment.

Quite miraculous when you think of it!

It’s general knowledge that breastfeeding is beneficial for both baby and mom … but not everyone knows some of the details.

Did you know? … Breastfed children score higher on cognitive and IQ tests at school age, and also on tests of visual acuity.

For more info see United States Breastfeeding Committee.