I've been doing some research on swaddle and the newborn hat once the baby is born. I'm thinking after my son is born, delayed cord clamp, no hat and immediate skin to skin, diaper only. He can regulate his temp better in my skin. Anyone done this or know of any discussions about it? I think the hospital will urge me to let him go for apgar/footprints, but is it really that urgent? This will be my 5th but most natural birth in hospital against traditional practice. Thanks!
I had my baby at a hospital that promotes skin to skin right after birth. They even did the Apgar right there on top of me. It's definitely possible in a hospital.
I've done s-t-2 after both of my births, which was great. The hospital only delayed clamping for a minute or two, but at my birth with a CPM we waited for 30 minutes, I think. It's hazy, but I think I delivered the placenta first, then cut. As for hats, I didn't think about it with DS1 and he wore one. With DS2, I had read some about not using one which I went with. For us, it ended up not being the right choice. DS2 had awesome APGARs but had concerningly low blood sugar a few hours after birth which can turn troublesome quickly. For his unique situation, having the extra warmth probably would've been beneficial. If you have a healthy delivery, I can't think why a hospital would push for APGARs away from you. Even if they are big on getting weight in, we're just talking about a few minutes.
It is always your right to decline anything. If you want to keep your baby skin to skin and have no hat, they cannot make you give baby up or put a hat on.
As for why no hat - babies don't actually need a hat to stay warm if they're skin to skin and the smell of baby's head causes mom's body to release a ton of oxytocin, which is helpful in getting the uterus to contract efficiently thus expelling the placenta quickly and minimizing the risk of bleeding afterward. It's also helpful for bonding.
It is always your right to decline anything. If you want to keep your baby skin to skin and have no hat, they cannot make you give baby up or put a hat on.
As for why no hat - babies don't actually need a hat to stay warm if they're skin to skin and the smell of baby's head causes mom's body to release a ton of oxytocin, which is helpful in getting the uterus to contract efficiently thus expelling the placenta quickly and minimizing the risk of bleeding afterward. It's also helpful for bonding.
Some things are just so over the top. Whatever though.
I had my baby at home, and did immediate skin to skin. I didn't want the hat, but my midwife was like, "Oh the baby needs a hat!" And I was all happy from just having my baby that I was like, whateve's. So I think it is fine to go with out a hat.
I had my baby at a hospital that promotes skin to skin right after birth. They even did the Apgar right there on top of me. It's definitely possible in a hospital.
This. Honestly, I thought most hospitals now a days do immediate skin to skin.
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I had a c-section and he was still skin to skin right away. In fact, once I let him get wrapped up and held by my husband and mom for a bit, the nurses unwrapped him and insisted that he go back skin to skin for a half hour because his temperature was low (that meant no one else could try to take him from me). We had an awesome hospital with great doctors and nurses...is your hospital "baby friendly?" My mother in law is a dietician who works with hospitals on their policy to make them more friendly to breastfeeding, etc. Our experience was fabulous and I think that more and more competitive urban hospitals are adopting "baby friendly" policies...it will eventually trickle out to less current rural hospitals with less local competition.
I had a c-section and my LO had complications, so when she went to the other room to be worked on, my husband went with her and did skin to skin there. After that, she spent the first 4-5 hours skin to skin with me once I was in my room.
Re: crunchy moms who is questioning swaddle + hat at birth
More Green For Less Green
DD#1 December '12
DD#2 New Year's Baby '15
Married 07/09
-My step-daughter is 12 years old.
-BFP #1 on 9/2/12, D&C 10/18/12 no heartbeat on US @ 10 weeks.
-BFP #2 on 1/7/13, R was born on 9/22/13 via C-Section
You need to talk to the hospital, doc or whomever is going to deliver your baby and make your wishes known.
No hat? Why? People have way too much time on their hands....
No hat? Why? People have way too much time on their hands....
Hahaha. This.Some things are just so over the top. Whatever though.