My
name is Pam. I am a midwife, mother, grandmother, and new Certified HUG
Teacher! I live on the Northern Beaches of Sydney in Australia, and work in a
local maternity unit. I mainly work with new mothers and their babies from
birth to day 7.
 |
| Early feeding cue - bringing hand to mouth |
Jan asked me to write a blog about "Early feeding and HUG Techniques and Strategies." The
question is: Should you put an unsettled, new baby skin-to-skin,
or swaddle the baby to support her and help her settle? A brand new baby needs
unlimited access to the breast to facilitate healthy growth in many ways. Newborn
babies have a remarkable ability to do “their job” at surviving and getting
“mum’s milk in.”
Why
more breastfeeding?
Babies
know they need extra colostrum to clear the bowel of Meconium, which in turn
facilitates the liver to get rid of extra Bilirubin, and therefore reduce the
chance of neonatal jaundice. Frequent
early feeding also allows many more alveolar receptor cells of the breast
to appear. This gives the hormone Prolactin, on day 3-4, more target cells to
adhere to. (This influences the milk production for the entire breastfeeding
duration for this baby!) Plus the frequent feeding will encourage the milk to
“come in” sooner.
 |
| Skin-to-Skin first few days increases bonding and promotes milk supply. |
Babies
also have a very small stomach (the only size of a small marble) and a fast gastric
emptying rate, which makes them hungry all the time! I am constantly telling tired,
worried mums that a baby who is unsettled in the first few days is exhibiting NORMAL
infant behaviour.
Swaddling should never be used instead of feeding. However, it may be useful for supporting a “cranky” baby. This
extra support can help mum calm the baby before she puts the baby to the breast. After breastfeeding his baby may then settle to sleep completely.
Babies
are also swaddled and “tucked in” to their little cots right next to mum (when
they are asleep). This allows the mother to rest herself, while being in close
contact with her baby, helping to recognize feeding cues, and having 24/7
access.
I
talk to new mums VERY BRIEFLY about baby’s deep and light sleep cycles, and
only BRIEFLY touch on the HUG "Zones and SOSs." I will discuss all the HUG
strategies with her when I visit her at home on days 5, 6 and 7.
CLICK HERE to read a story of Pam using The HUG with a new family.