Pediatr. praxi. 2013;14(3):201-204

Support of early contact as a standard not to go below: a chimera, or a future reality?

Mgr.Michaela Mrowetz¹, MUDr.Marcela Peremská²

¹ Ordinace klinické psychologie a psychoterapie, Ostrava

² Dětské oddělení, Nemocnice Teplice, o. z., Krajská zdravotní, a. s.

Continuous contact of mother and child immediately after childbirth is of essential importance for the whole newly formed family and

leads to healthy reactions. In the early postpartum period (stages 3 and 4 of labor), unique and unrepeatable hormonal changes occur

that, provided there is sustained contact, establish mental and health stability. Continuous skin-to-skin contact between child and mother

results in reinforcement of maternal behavior, improved postpartum adaptation and cardiorespiratory stability in the newborn, easier

attachment to the breast and rapid onset of lactation as well as reduced postpartum bleeding in the mother, less crying in the newborn,

etc. Therefore, support of early contact of the mother (or father or a close person in case the mother is in a life-threatening situation)

with the child is the mainstay of good-quality obstetric care.

Keywords: early contact, bonding, separation, childbirth, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin

Published: July 15, 2013  Show citation