AAP Birthbonding

While searching for a few things on the American Academy of Pediatrics website, I came across there policy on breastfeeding and newborn care. One section, in particular, caught my interest. It is as follows:

3. Healthy infants should be placed and remain in direct skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately after delivery until the first feeding is accomplished.156–158

* The alert, healthy newborn infant is capable of latching on to a breast without specific assistance within the first hour after birth.156 Dry the infant, assign Apgar scores, and perform the initial physical assessment while the infant is with the mother. The mother is an optimal heat source for the infant.159,160 Delay weighing, measuring, bathing, needle-sticks, and eye prophylaxis until after the first feeding is completed. Infants affected by maternal medications may require assistance for effective latch-on.156 Except under unusual circumstances, the newborn infant should remain with the mother throughout the recovery period.161

I thought this was interesting enough to note given the rift between midwifery and medical approaches to childbirth. If you opt for a hospital birth, know that you can confidently request skin-to-skin contact and regular breastfeeding attempts following the birth, and rooming-in during recovery with the AAP on your side!

Find the full policy here under the section titled Recommendations on Breastfeeding for Healthy Term Infants.


Resources:
AAP's Breastfeeding Initiatives
AAP's Children's Health Topics: Breastfeeding
La Leche League International
WHO Breastfeeding
Birthing Naturally

Related Posts:
Saved in Childbearing?
Something Special (Part 3) Aviel's Birth Story