1999 LLLI Conference Sessions:
Perinatal Care in the 21st Century
By Karen Zeretzke
Baton Rouge LA USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 16 No. 5, September-October 1999, p. 168
Marshall Klaus' knowledge
and wisdom about mother-baby attachment at birth has been gleaned over
the years from watching, listening, and research. I wanted to attend
Klaus' session because I have heard him speak before and admire him
for his great respect for mothers and babies. Dr. Klaus gave five recommendations
to improve perinatal care in the next century.
During labor and delivery,
every mother should be offered continuous physical and emotional support
by a knowledgeable, caring doula in addition to her partner.
Wherever possible, analgesic
medications and epidural analgesia during childbirth should be avoided
so there will be no interference with the infant's ability to latch
on to the breast and breastfeed.
Immediately after birth and
a thorough drying, an infant who has a good Apgar score and appears
normal should be offered to the mother for skin-to-skin contact, with
warmth provided by the mother's body and a light blanket covering her
and her baby. The baby should not be removed for a bath, footprinting,
or administration of Vitamin K or eye medication until after the first
hour. The baby should be allowed to decide when to start the first suckling.
Central nurseries in hospitals
should be closed. All babies should room-in with their mothers throughout
the short hospital stay unless this is prevented by illness of mother
or infant. A small nursery area should be available for infants of mothers
who are ill.
Early and continuous mother-infant
contact appears to decrease abandonment of infants and increase the
length and success of breastfeeding. Mothers should begin breastfeeding
in the first hour, nurse frequently, and be encouraged to breastfeed
for at least the first two weeks of life, even if they plan to go back
to work. Early, frequent breastfeeding has many advantages, including
removing bilirubin from the digestive system and promoting mother-to-infant
attachment.
Klaus opposes routine interventions
and tells why this is a better plan. His promotion of practices that
support the mother and protect the baby is both heartwarming and valid.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:23 UTC 2007.
