Understanding and Benefits of Early Breastfeeding Initiation for Mothers and Babies

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding

Early initiation of breastfeeding is the process of providing breast milk immediately after the baby is born, which is usually carried out within 30 minutes to 1 hour after delivery. Early initiation of breastfeeding is an important process when a newborn baby is placed on the mother’s chest or stomach, and can naturally find its own source of breast milk (ASI) and breastfeed. Early initiation of breastfeeding is an important step to make it easier for babies to start the breastfeeding process. The benefits of breast milk have been proven to play a very important role as the main food source and help strengthen the immune system of newborn babies so that they are protected from various diseases.

How to Initiate Early Breastfeeding

The procedure for initiating early breastfeeding is actually a simple process. After the baby is cleaned and its health condition checked, the doctor or medical team will immediately place the baby on the mother’s chest. Mother and baby are both naked so direct skin contact can occur.
The Early Breastfeeding Initiation Procedure is carried out over a long period of time, especially while waiting for the baby to move to look for the mother’s nipple. During this process, the mother is not advised to help the baby or deliberately push the baby closer to the nipple. What mothers should do during the Early Breastfeeding Initiation process is to patiently wait and let the baby actively move to look for the mother’s nipple. Let the entire interaction process between mother and newborn at the time of early breastfeeding initiation run naturally. The Early Breastfeeding Initiation Process is a stage that begins when the baby is placed on the mother’s stomach or chest and ends when the baby releases the suckle from the mother’s nipple.

The initial stages of Early Breastfeeding Initiation are as follows:

1. After the baby is born and it is felt that he does not need resuscitation (breathing assistance) or other medical treatment, immediately place the baby on the mother’s stomach.
2. If the baby is born by caesarean section, place the baby on the mother’s chest.
3. Beforehand, make sure the baby’s head, face and other parts of the body except the hands are dry. This is so that the aroma of the amniotic fluid (amnion) on the baby’s hands will help direct him to look for the mother’s nipple which has a similar aroma.
4. To make the process easier, the mother’s chest should not be cleaned either. Likewise with babies, it is best not to clean the vernix caseosa that is attached to their body.
  (Vernix caseosa is a soft layer of white fatty substance that comes from oil glands and skin that has peeled off. Vernix caseosa does not need to be cleaned because it can function to retain heat in the baby’s body when it is just born).

The advanced stages of Early Breastfeeding Initiation are as follows:

1. The doctor or midwife and the medical team will cut the baby’s umbilical cord first. After that, the baby will be placed on his stomach on the mother’s stomach in a breastfeeding position, namely the baby’s head facing the mother’s head.
2. If the temperature in the delivery room feels cold, it is fine to cover the mother and baby or wear a hat on the baby’s head.
3. After approximately 12-44 minutes, the baby usually starts to move by kicking, moving his legs, shoulders and arms.
4. The movements he makes will slowly direct his body towards the mother’s nipples. The stimulation given by the baby can also help the mother’s womb (uterus) contract to restore its condition after giving birth.
5. A baby’s vision ability at the beginning of birth is not perfect and is still limited. However, the baby can see the areola of the breast which is darker in color than the mother’s skin and then moves towards the breast.
6. The baby will also move and bang its head against the mother’s chest several times. This can be stimulation as if it were a massage on the mother’s breasts.

Meanwhile, for babies born prematurely, skin-to-skin contact can be started when their bodies are strong enough. Apart from strengthening the bond between mother and baby, the kangaroo method as a form of Early Breastfeeding Initiation is a process that aims to help support the development of newborn premature babies.

Various actions and movements of the baby during the Early Breastfeeding Initiation process are as follows:

1. First the baby will make a characteristic cry, but this usually only lasts a moment.
2. Then enter the relaxation stage when the baby’s body begins to stop crying and move slowly.
3. The baby begins to wake up, opens his eyes, and responds to hearing his mother’s voice.
4. The baby’s movements start with small movements first, including the arms, shoulders and head.
5. As time passes, the baby’s movements increase. The baby will lift and move its knees, then appear to move towards the mother’s breast.
6. When it reaches the breast area, the baby will usually stop to rest for a moment. But don’t be mistaken, this does not indicate that the baby is not hungry or does not want to breastfeed.
7. Once the rest is sufficient, the baby will begin to get used to the mother’s breast. This can be seen from his behavior, which starts kissing, licking and observing the area.
8. This process will take some time so the mother still has to patiently wait until the baby can find the nipple to breastfeed.
9. When the baby has found the nipple he will start to breastfeed for the first time.

A little help may be needed to change the position of the mother or baby so that the first breastfeeding process in this early initiation of breastfeeding can be easier and more comfortable. If the baby feels he has breastfed enough during the early breastfeeding initiation process, he will usually stop and fall asleep on his own.

Benefits of Early Breastfeeding Initiation for Mothers and Babies

Breastfeeding has many benefits for the health of mother and baby. Breast milk (mother’s milk) is rich in nutrients that babies need in the first six months of life. Breastfeeding can protect babies from diarrhea and common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia and is beneficial for the long term of their lives. Giving breast milk to babies within the first hour after birth, or also called Early Breastfeeding Initiation, is useful for ensuring that babies receive colostrum or first breast milk which is rich in protective factors. In addition, skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after delivery is useful for increasing the possibility of exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers who give birth normally and the baby’s condition is healthy after birth means this can be done immediately after giving birth.

The following are some of the benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding for mothers and babies:

Increases the baby’s chance of getting colostrum.
Colostrum is a mother’s first drop of breast milk which is rich in nutrients and helps prevent disease. The first liquid from breast milk is usually yellow, very thick and only amounts to about one teaspoon. Not only that, giving breast milk from an early age through Early Breastfeeding Initiation is also good for preventing disruption of breast milk production.
Supports the success of exclusive breastfeeding.
Early initiation of breastfeeding is known to support the success of exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is at least 4 months old. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until the baby is 6 months old, but may be continued until the child is 2 years old.
Strengthens the relationship between mother and baby.
Evidence shows that a baby’s skin in direct contact with the mother’s skin (skin-to-skin contact) immediately after birth can create deeper intimacy with the mother. Furthermore, the baby’s skin in direct contact with the mother’s skin is an effective way to soothe a sick baby, which can be done at any time. This also makes the mother more comfortable.
So that newborn babies do not feel anxious.
The treatment and actions given to babies when they are born have a good impact, for both the short and long term. That is the reason why early initiation of breastfeeding and the interaction between mother and baby’s skin are important things that should be given to babies. One of them is to make babies less anxious and easier to adapt to the outside world. It should be noted that babies who are separated by the mother after giving birth and do not initiate early breastfeeding and are placed in the nursery generally have little difficulty adapting. Babies tend to cry often because they are anxious and stressed seeing changes in the environment around them.
Improve baby’s health.
Early initiation of breastfeeding can reduce newborn mortality. Apart from that, it can improve health, growth and development, and help build the baby’s immune system. Then, breast milk is also very good for the health of the baby’s digestive system.
Mother is calmer and happier.
The birthing process is not an easy thing to do. The pain that occurs during the process of contractions and delivery cannot be avoided. It can even cause trauma for the mother. During the birthing process, the mother’s body automatically produces many hormones, including endorphins and oxytocin. The process of initiating early breastfeeding after giving birth means that contact between mother and baby can occur more quickly. Indirectly, early initiation of breastfeeding is a process that can reduce the pain and possible trauma experienced by the mother after childbirth.
Mothers’ motivation to breastfeed is increasing.
It is not uncommon for mothers to feel anxious or worried about the amount of breast milk produced during Early Breastfeeding Initiation. Whether it’s a small amount of breast milk, it makes it difficult for the baby to breastfeed. Please note, this worry can cause stress for the mother which can affect breast milk production. That is the importance of Early Breastfeeding Initiation and skin contact between mother and baby after birth. Because it can increase the mother’s confidence in starting breastfeeding. The stimulation given to the baby during the Early Breastfeeding Initiation process can trigger breast milk production to become smoother. Without realizing it, early initiation of breastfeeding becomes a process of mother’s closeness and affection for the baby.

Implementing Early Breastfeeding Initiation

To implement the Early Breastfeeding Initiation process, it is important for prospective mothers to choose a hospital or midwife clinic that is pro-ASI and pro-Early Breastfeeding Initiation. The following are several things that must be ensured when looking for a place to give birth if you want to implement early breastfeeding initiation:

The hospital or midwife clinic has a policy of placing mothers and babies in one room or postpartum rooming-in.
Hospitals or midwife clinics should not advise mothers, especially those who have not succeeded in producing breast milk, to give formula milk to babies.
Doctors, midwives and/or nurses who will assist with childbirth are pro-ASI and ready to help mothers breastfeed.
Give time to mother and baby to initiate early breastfeeding after birth and let the baby breastfeed as long as he needs.
Other needs such as bathing and weighing the baby can be postponed after the Early Breastfeeding Initiation process.

However, there are times when certain procedures, such as an unplanned caesarean section or complications during delivery, make this process impossible. However, it is important for mothers to emphasize their desire to initiate early breastfeeding, if this is still possible. In the end, early initiation of breastfeeding can be successfully implemented if the mother undergoing the birthing process is physically and mentally ready. This process will only be successful if the mother is confident and fully supported by all parties around her, especially the hospital, the doctor who assisted with the birth process, and the family.