Newborn behaviour to locate the breast when skin‐to‐skin: a possible method for enabling early self‐regulation
- 16 August 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Acta Paediatrica
- Vol. 100 (1), 79-85
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01983.x
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to provide a more detailed analysis of the infant’s behavioural sequence that begins immediately after birth and terminates with grasping the nipple, suckling and then falling asleep. Method: Twenty-eight full-term infants were videotaped immediately after birth. A video protocol was developed to examine infant behaviours identified from five random videotapes. Results: When birth crying had stopped, the babies showed a short period of relaxation and then successively became alert. They went through an ‘awakening phase’, an ‘active phase’ with movements of limbs, rooting activity and looking at the mother’s face, a ‘crawling phase’ with soliciting sounds, a ‘familiarization phase’ with licking of the areola, and a ‘suckling phase’ and last a ‘sleeping phase’. Five factors related to the time spent to locate the breast: more number of looks at the breast 10–20 min after birth (p < 0.0001); and exposure to meperidine (p = 0.0006) related to increased time. Early start of crawling (p = 0,0040); increased number of ‘soliciting sounds’ (p = 0.0022); and performing hand–breast–mouth movements (p = 0.0105) related to shorter time. Conclusion: Inborn breastfeeding reflexes were depressed at birth, possibly because of a depressed sensory system. It is hypothesized that when the infant is given the option to peacefully go through the nine behavioural phases birth cry, relaxation, awakening, activity, crawling, resting, familiarization, suckling and sleeping when skin-to-skin with its mother this results in early optimal self-regulation.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Early Contact versus Separation: Effects on Mother–Infant Interaction One Year LaterBirth, 2009
- Skin‐to‐skin contact may reduce negative consequences of “the stress of being born”: a study on temperature in newborn infants, subjected to different ward routines in St. PetersburgActa Paediatrica, 2003
- Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) promotes self-regulation in premature infants: Sleep-wake cyclicity, arousal modulation, and sustained exploration.Developmental Psychology, 2002
- Breast odour as the only maternal stimulus elicits crawling towards the odour sourceActa Paediatrica, 2001
- Correlation between level of self‐regulation in the newborn infant and developmental status at two years of ageActa Paediatrica, 2001
- Developmental Aspects of Kangaroo CareJournal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 1996
- Effects of maternal pethidine on infants' developing breast feeding behaviourActa Paediatrica, 1995
- The position of the tongue during rooting reflexes elicited in newborn infants before the first suckleActa Paediatrica, 1993
- Plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol concentrations in mothers and their neonates immediately after delivery — their relationship to the duration of laborjpme, 1987
- Audiovisual Records as a Primary Data SourceSociological Methods & Research, 1982