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Dear Lactation Consultant:
I am due to have my baby in about a
month and everything I have been taught in my breast feeding class,
(which, by the way, I did not take in the hospital I will be
delivering at because I was warned by friends not to,) encourages
putting the baby to the breast immediately after it is born, unless
there is a medical reason not to. When we went on the hospital
tour, we were told that the baby goes to the nursery after delivery
and that I will not be able to breast feed until we are in our
post-recovery room. What can I do to keep my baby in the delivery
room so I can breast feed?
Amee Ashton
Washington, D.C.
Dear Amee:
You are asking for an answer I am often
asked, but one which is difficult to reply to without
repercussions, as every hospital has their own policies when it
comes to how long the baby can stay with you after delivery. If the
hospital is baby-friendly, there is no issue, as the baby will
remain with you for at least an hour, but otherwise it be anything
from what you might experience to 15-20 minutes to a full hour.
Working in Los Angeles, where most hospitals allow babies to
breastfeed immediately after birth, it is indeed frustrating to
hear of your situation. Research has shown over and again that
encouraging good breastfeeding, which includes getting off to a
good start quickly after delivery, putting the baby to the breast
skin to skin and allowing the baby to remain that way for as long
as possible will lead to success at the breast when the baby has
become interested after they recover from the labor experience,
which may be as long as 72 hours later.
I’d recommend you discuss this with
your OB in hopes she is more understanding and will help change the
hospital policy to accommodate your request. Let her know that
assuming the baby is healthy, you would like him or her to stay
with you for the first hour or so after delivery and that you
realize at that point in time the baby will most likely become
tired and can go to the nursery for the full first exam (if that is
what the hospital does.) If the baby has had a good amount of time
at the breast and has suckled well before falling asleep, he or she
will have recall from those first feedings and you should be off to
a great start for all additional nursings during those first few
days. As a baby becomes more alert and “demanding” of
the breast, the latch should be optimal or need a few simple
changes and you should have avoided most of the problems new
breastfeeding moms often encounter when they didn’t have the
opportunity to have their baby right after delivery. This should
help convince your doctor and hopefully you will be able to look
forward to having your baby skin to skin and breastfeeding within
moments of being born.
Good luck to you and please let me know if
you were successful! --Leslye
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