Labor and delivery

Three things you should know about ensuring your baby's gentle birth

By Christine Ramos

Though it may feel like it never will get here, the big day shall arrive. I hope you have chosen to utilize any one of the marvelous options available to help make your childbirth a fulfilling experience. Yet in anticipating what promises to be one of the most phenomenal experiences for you, don't overlook what baby goes through. From the pressure of suctioning her nose and mouth to the sharp pain of her first injection (vitamin K), her welcome can certainly seem unkind.

Minimize your baby's physical pain

Make no mistake about it, newborn babies can perceive discomfort and pain—new and shocking sensations to them. One thing you can do to comfort your baby is to have immediate physical contact with her after birth. If this is impossible, as when undergoing a cesarean section, request that your partner be able to embrace your newborn shortly after his birth.

Too often we as new parents permit hospital staff to unjustifiably create separateness between ourselves and our healthy baby by whisking him away to a nursery moments after his birth. This is wrong and goes against a very basic instinct of bonding with your baby soon after he is born. If your baby requires medical care and once you are physically able to do so, ask to participate in his care.

Above all else and if at all possible, ensure that your baby be touched and embraced frequently. Numerous studies have proven the healing effects of touch on babies and children: they thrive from frequent physical contact, achieve quicker recovery times, and experience improved immune systems, enhanced growth, and reduced stress hormones.

Consider rooming in

If you and your baby are physically able, ask that your baby room-in with you. There may be both full and modified rooming-in options available at your birthing facility. Modified rooming in is when your baby is with you the majority of the day but is brought back to the nursery several times during the day and all night. Your baby will be brought to you, if you choose, every 3-4 hours during the night for feedings.

This option may be suitable for the mother who is experiencing medical problems and who cannot respond to or care for her baby as necessary in the immediate postpartum period. However, every effort should be made to change to full rooming-in as soon as you are feeling able to safely care for her baby. Full rooming-in means baby is with you day and night. Baby goes back to the nursery only for medical exams or procedures and when you request that he return, such as times when you want to shower or get some rest.

Having your baby with you for as much time as possible after his birth is the most beneficial for the both you and baby. In addition to soothing your baby during his time of adapting to his new world, the close contact with him will increase your natural intuition and responsiveness to him. The ability to sense what your baby is feeling and thus knowing what he needs creates a natural easiness in parenting.

Begin intuitive nurturing

Do not be afraid or intimidated by your new role as a mother (or father); trust yourself to sense what your baby needs and wants. It is entirely possible to perceive what your baby is experiencing as he adapts to his new situation. Begin as soon as you can after your baby's birth. While you are alone with your baby, close your eyes and temporarily forget every child rearing advice you received from anyone, including family members, physicians, parenting experts, and so on.

Look, listen, and feel your baby; then ,sense his unique innateness. What does he feel like when he is calm? Try to sense the difference in his body when he is calm/alert and calm/sleepy. What about when he begins to cry? What does the intensity tell you? Do you sense the sharpness of pain, or the dullness of discomfort? The vast majority of times when a healthy newborn baby cries, it is because he is expressing the discomfort of unfamiliar sensations and/or arousal. Obey your own natural instinct to embrace your child, and notice the change in him when you hold him.

A child's cries are designed to evoke a physical response from you; however, it is your baby's last resort of communication. In time, by familiarizing yourself to your baby's uniqueness, you will be able to pick up on what your baby needs or wants before he has to cry. Many parents who are intuitively connected to their children can even sense when their baby is getting ill—before symptoms arise.