Stages of your Birthing Time: Stage 2.5 (Part 3)

Birthing Stage 2.5: Baby Kindness

This is a stage that we learned about in our hypnobabies class. Baby Kindness is the stage that follows immediately after your baby is born. This stage stresses the importance of bonding with your baby and showing them "baby kindness" as they make the transition from being in a nice warm womb to joining the outside world. Basically it stresses that you can provide a peaceful environment for your baby and reminds you that as long as the baby and mom are healthy there are certain things you can do as a parent to welcome your baby into a loving family.

You can do different things during this stage that you and your partner feel comfortable with. I will share what information they suggested in our hypnobabies class:

When your baby is born, if the baby is healthy it is usually best if he/she is placed immediately skin to skin with you, on your chest, to maintain a nice warm temperature. Have your partner place fresh blankets over the both of you. This assures that there will be conductive heat transfer from mother to baby. Hearing your heartbeat again will comfort your child and make the transition to the outside world less traumatic.

This is also a time when the birth partner can take an active role and really get into the action. You can dry the baby off yourself, with baby towels that you brought from home (baby hoody towels are much softer than the hospital towels). Taking responsibility for this job will ensure that your little one is treated gently and respectfully during this very strange and unfamiliar time. You can just smile and say to the nurse "I'll do that." :)

Excessive rubbing or drying of your baby is not necessary at birth, nor is bathing. Just make sure your baby's head and body are dry, and then place clean dry blankets/towels over mom and baby and let them rest.

Talking to your baby at this time quietly will help him/her adjust too, since he/she is attuned to and familiar with both of your voices and will be comforted easier. Some babies don't cry much at all, and if your baby is quiet, as long as she/he is breathing well there's no need for the nurses or doctor to flick the baby's feet or otherwise try to get him/her to cry and 'pink up'.

Your baby's cord is still pulsating for approximately 2-5 minutes after birth and this means necesary blood (and therefore oxygen) is still being pumped into your baby. Requesting that your baby's umbilical cord be clamped and cut after it stops pulsating will ensure that your baby gets all the blood it is supposed to receive. For the hospital staff, this means waiting a few extra minutes and they can surely handle this.