Often when I work with moms who have experienced a traumatic birth they recount the ways in which their instincts were dismissed or minimized (at best) or told that they were somehow a danger to their child. I love that more and more evidence-based research is proving that mom’s instincts are, indeed, evidence-based as well.
I keep a collection of evidence-based information to share with moms who are getting mixed signals about how to care for their babies. The beauty is that love and touch are evidence-based.
Today I want to share a few gems from my link collection. If you are mom who wants believe you can trust your instincts, yet are getting mixed messages from others, you now have evidence-based research to share.
From the Journal of Perinatal Education:
No Separation of Mother and Baby, With Unlimited Opportunities for Breastfeeding
Since the beginning of time, women needed and wanted their babies close to them. In their arms following birth, and while resting or sleeping, women kept their babies safe, warm, and nourished. Today, we know this “yearning for closeness” is a physical and emotional need shared by mothers and babies. read more…
This yearning is a biological need for oxytocin levels to rise, creating a sufficient milk supply for mom, and love and trust for both. This is thwarted when baby and mom are separated, and having that yearning dismissed has long-term consequences.
From The Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health via Medscape,
Evidence-Based Practices for the Fetal to Newborn Transition
Many hospital routines that are used to assess and manage newborns immediately after birth developed because of convenience, expediency, or habit, and have never been validated. Some practices are so ingrained that older traditional practices, such as providing skin-to-skin care or delaying cord clamping, must be considered “experimental” in current studies. However, recent research is beginning to identify some older practices that should not have been abandoned and some current practices that should be stopped.
It is important that you are aware that things as simple as holding your baby skin-to-skin is experimental in some settings. You will want to provide research for your requests if you find you are getting pushback.
Ideally every mom/baby/family would be supported in a truly evidence-based way without needing to do anything other than give birth. I wish that were a given. The more moms request evidence-based care for themselves and their baby the sooner it will happen for everyone.