> Also is anyone aware of any good > journal articles on the first breastfeed in birth suite. I tried to search the > web but mostly seemed to get personal stories or documents I couldn't open. >
certainly there is research informing of optimal approaches to the first breastfeed after birth (including 'Evidence for the ten steps to successful breastfeeding' step 4 as mentioned by Alesa) to facilitate positive experience for mother and baby which may impact on maternal confidence and infant feeding ability for optimal attachment. Perhaps someone interested in research could investigate women's experience of the first breastfeed. Gabriel Palmer and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) both point out the importance of how midwives assist mothers with the first breastfeed. My research project last year for a Masters was concerning "The first Breastfeed: Midwives knowledge and practice". Articles with results have been submitted to journals for publishing. No doubt the first breastfeeding experience immediately after birth is very much associated with management of birthing and touching the baby. Unfortunately it seems women and midwives do need education on matters of newborn feeding ability and how to observe and work with what the baby can do rather than 'teach' the mother what to do according to specific techniques. Ruth ------------------------------------- Ruth Cantrill Griffith University NATHAN QLD 4111 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
