The first minutes of the child

When moving from the uterus to independent breathing, it is important that the child at birth is in safe hands.

1 First events of

The first step is to check that the child has come to this world healthy and that he is not threatened. At birth, the mouth and nose of the child are filled with water( amniotic fluid).The midwife pumped this liquid out to give air access. The child makes his first breath through the nose a few seconds after birth, sometimes even as soon as his head is shown outward, and the whole body is still inside. Having pumped the fluid out of the child's airways, your midwife cuts and clamps the umbilical cord, and the baby begins life outside the uterus. Sometimes all this is done while the child rests comfortably on your stomach, on a soft cushion, with which he has to make a leap into the extrauterine life.

First touch

Childbirth without hands does not happen. During childbirth, many mothers stretch down and touch the child's head when it appears from the birth canal, as if they instinctively need to help the child with their hands.(If the fetal expulsion phase is prolonged, the mother can be very helpful if she touches that small part of her baby's head that is finally within reach.) This helps her to gather, as she shows how to direct her efforts.) Some midwives encourage their fathersThey also touched the head of the child or even took the whole child in their hands as soon as they leave the birth canal, which gives him a sense of belonging to the childbirth.

I vividly remember the sensations experienced at the birth of our sixth baby, Matthew. Since our midwife was late for childbirth, the privilege of "picking up" the child went to me.(When I, proud with pride, bragging to my friends that we have given birth to our child, Martha immediately corrects me.) She gave birth to Matthew - I accepted. Why is this father supposed to receive all the glory when all the work was done by the mother?) Martha is right.) I'm allI still remember my ecstasy, when my hands first held the head of my son. It was a very special relationship that arose between us at the moment of birth: and now, many years later, we have a special relationship - do not you see any connection? This first touch Matthew, probably never remember, but I'll never forget.

Since then I have become a real veteran of newborns picking up, as I also took our kids number seven and eight( at the birth of our adopted daughter I was also present).Many midwives are now giving fathers the opportunity to establish contact with their child with this particular

method. The first touch is not for all fathers( or mothers), but if it's important for you, ask.

First changes

As soon as the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the most important change in the child's life takes place - the transition from breathing through the placenta and the umbilical cord to independent breathing by air. Some children immediately turn on and turn pink. Others require a few sips of oxygen and / or mild stimulation to start breathing.

The first meeting of

After the phrase "all systems are OK" - that in medical jargon means "the baby is pink and breathing well" - the midwife puts the baby on your stomach( if it was not done before), the skin to the skin, the abdomen to the stomach, sothat its head rests comfortably between your breasts, and covers it with a warm, well-absorbent towel to wipe it and keep it from freezing. Try putting the child's cheek on your chest and letting him lick or suck your nipple. If he is still alarmed and continues to cry, you must understand that he has just passed through a very frightening test. Your warm hand on his back will help him feel that he is being held securely. This safe, warm place, as well as rhythmic sucking movements - is exactly what it needs to calm the nerves after experiencing the birth stress.

This is the first close embrace - not only a healthy psyche, but also a good medicine. Newborns easily catch cold. If you press your child to yourself, stomach to stomach, cheek to chest, then provide a natural heat transfer from the mother to the newborn. When a child sucks your breasts, it stimulates the production of a hormone called oxy-tocin, which helps reduce uterine contractions and reduces postpartum hemorrhage.

This first meeting should be in private. After the medical staff is satisfied that the mother and the child are feeling well and the performance is over, ask that you are left for a while by the three of you - mother, father and baby( and older children if they are given permission and if their presence is necessary for you).This is a special time, your personal time of family affinity, which should not be disturbed by routine procedures.

First impressions of

Immediately after birth, the children usually seem distressed and unhappy - a painful grimace, a wrinkled forehead, swollen eyes, tightly clamped legs and clenched fists. A few minutes after the birth of most newborns goes into a state of calm vigilance. This is the first level of receptivity, when a newborn can get better acquainted with his new environment. The eyes of the child and the language of his body indicate this state. Being in a state of calm vigilance, the child opens his eyes wide in search of another pair of eyes - give him yours. At this time of primary importance the child will look into your eyes, cuddle up to your chest, relax your fists and legs and calmly sink into the softness of your body. In this intimate space, the mother and child need one thing: the child needs to be reassured, the mother needs to be with her child. During this first communication, the child absorbs the sound of your voice, your smell, the sensation that your warm skin gives, and the sweet taste of your first meal. The child continues to suck, you continue to calm him, and both of you feel that everything is in order. About an hour after birth, be prepared for your child to fall into a happy deep sleep.

First sensations of

Imagine for a moment what your child feels during this first meeting. By providing your child with a soft transition from the inner womb to the outer womb of your skin, hands, chest, you teach the child that is always followed by chagrin after joy; that the world outside the womb is a warm and cozy place. The connection was not interrupted, and the birth only changed the form of the expression of this connection.

The child you are now seeing is a child you have been feeling all this time, which you have known for a long time and have finally met. We noticed that during this first meeting, mothers and fathers look at their newborn as if through a wide-angle lens, as if they want to get a general idea of ​​the uniqueness of this new creature. Then, after a while, they focus on the special features of their newborn. One of the first feelings, which, as we noted, is expressed by newly-made parents, is the immediate acceptance of a new member into the family."She has your ears," her mother can tell her father. Or parents can exclaim: "She has the nose of her grandmother."