The implantation of skin-to-skin contact is becoming common practice in 80% of the maternity hospitals. The benefits of not separating the baby and the mother from the same birth are widely demonstrated.
But this practice, as explained by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP), has revealed the occurrence of episodes of sudden postnatal collapse that, although they continue to be a very rare phenomenon, can have serious consequences.
According to a study between several centers, coordinated from the Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid, incorporating the mother's bed at an angle of 45 percent helps avoid them: reduces by one third the frequency of oxygen saturation episodes lower than 90% in the first two hours of the newborn's life.
In Babies and more The first hour of life is sacred for mother and babyThe first two hours of life
“The most critical hours are especially the first two of the baby's life, although we could extend this time to 24 hours. Hence the need to protocolize skin-to-skin contact. ”
This is explained by Dr. Isabel Izquierdo, spokeswoman for sudden death of the Committee for the Promotion of Health of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, which states that "At least 80% of newborns, by vaginal delivery or caesarean section without general anesthesia, are placed in skin contact with immediate skin or in the first five minutes after delivery."
Explain that at no time to separate the mother from her son:
"It favors adaptation to extrauterine life, reduces stress, facilitates thermal regulation, blood glucose and cardiorespiratory stability, decreases crying time, encourages the establishment of the bond, benefits chest grip, decreases maternal anxiety and increases frequency and duration of breastfeeding, among others ”.
Hence its practice should be stimulated in a safe and supervised manner.
Tilt of the mother's bed at an angle of 45%
The expert doctor in sudden death of newborns adds that the implantation of skin-to-skin contact has also revealed the occurrence of episodes of sudden and unexpected postnatal collapse. "Although they continue to be a very rare phenomenon, it can have serious consequences." Hence, the study carried out in 10 Spanish hospitals and coordinated by Dr. Carmen Pallás, from the Hospital 12 de Octubre, is of great importance.
They have verified that the frequency of oxygen saturation episodes less than 90%, in the first two hours of the newborn’s life, one third is reduced in babies whose mothers are incorporated at 45º on the horizontal plane of the bed, compared to babies with mothers only incorporated only 15º. Therefore, Dr. Isabel Izquierdo says:
“A simple intervention such as increasing the angle of inclination of the mother's bed while making skin-to-skin contact with her newborn child, during the first 1-2 hours of life after birth, could favor the hemodynamic and respiratory stability of the newborn thus contributing to reduce the occurrence of sudden and unexpected neonatal collapse during this procedure ”.
In Babies and more Babies born by caesarean section would also have to stay in contact skin to skin with the mother And he adds how this beneficial practice should be performed in term infants who are healthy:
"In the first place it is essential to inform parents correctly and have their consent and collaboration."
All the first tests and care of the newborn are performed on the mother: the drying and stabilization of the baby and checking her crying, breathing and skin tone. The Apgar test will also be performed at 1 and 5 minutes of life.
By proceeding to the umbilical cord clamping, “It is essential to place the mother and the newborn in a correct position that prevents the obstruction of the baby's airways”. And there helps the inclination of the 45º bed.
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