The Breast Crawl - The First Time You Breastfeed Your Baby
The Newborn Breast Crawl
A newborn baby can crawl from the middle of a mother’s chest to her nipple, latch on and suckle all without assistance!
The miracle of childbirth is shown here and shows just how natural breastfeeding is. This magical video will help mothers understand that they can allow their babies to initiate breastfeeding right from the time they come into this world.
The breast crawl is natural and intuitive to a baby, so it is essential to initiate breastfeeding at least half an hour after birth. This early start to breastfeeding helps promote a successful breastfeeding relationship.
When a baby has been born without the interference below, it can be an extraordinary time in the first hour after birth, and this is when a baby is in an alert state.
This time together will help a baby transition smoothly from inside the womb to the outside world, where a mother's voice is recognized and where her baby feels secure and loved.
This is a great bonding time for mom and improves the release of the hormone Oxytocin, which helps increase bonding and the milk flow.
What Things May Interfere With This Instinctive Behavior?
- Medication, especially when given an epidural. The medication makes a baby sleepy and disorientated, resulting in a slower, less powerful suck for up to a week after birth.
- Suctioning can cause problems in the baby’s initial sucking. Most of the time, a baby’s nose and mouth can be wiped with a cloth instead of being suctioned
- If the baby is separated from the mother immediately after birth for any reason.
What Are Some of the Benefits of the Breastfeeding Crawl?
- It increases the chances of a successful breastfeeding relationship.
- It promotes early bonding between Mom and Baby.
It promotes the hormones that increase milk supply and help with milk flow.
Can Any Baby Do the Breast Crawl?
Yes, most babies could do this unless the baby is premature or has suck problems or other birth defects. There are things that you can do to ensure success with this method of breast crawling:
- If possible, have a natural birth with as little medication involved.
- Avoid nasal suction if your baby shows no signs of congestion and is crying well.
- Weighing, measuring, injections, and your baby's first bath can be done after the first breastfeeding session.
- Give your baby at least an hour to accomplish the first feeding.
- Discuss the breast crawl with your doula, midwife, or whoever will be involved with the birth.
- If the weather is cooler, the two of you can be covered by a lightweight blanket.
- Do not wipe or wash your breasts before the first breastfeeding session; your body gives off a unique smell after birth that entices your baby to the breast.
- Skin-to-skin contact with no clothing in-between you and your baby is best. Kangaroo care is recommended.
- Stay in the room where you have given birth until your baby has had the first feed.
