Bonding with your baby after C section
Your newborn baby is on your chest as you shed tears of joy. We believe you imagined the moment when your baby comes into the world as the happiest moment of your life. But sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
Whether the C-section was planned or not, you may not be able to cuddle with your baby right away. Also, like any other surgical procedure, C-section recovery involves rest for the first few days so you won’t be able to move and get out of bed easily.
But don’t worry, there are ways you can have a bonding experience with your newborn after the delivery.
Skin-to-skin contact
After the birth, the baby can be brought to you by the nurse and can be placed skin to skin on your bare chest. This type of touch, also referred as kangaroo care, has been found to be incredibly beneficial for emotional bonding between you and your child.
Cuddling moments
While you are still in the hospital and recovering from a procedure, you can use these moments to gently cuddle and talk with your baby every time the nurse brings it to you.
Feeding time
Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, feeding time provides an immediate way to bond with your baby. Also, if breastfeeding is not an option, there are milk formulas specifically suitable for C-section born babies that provides useful bacteria they didn’t come into contact with. If holding your baby up to your breast causes pain use a pillow as a buffer between your sensitive belly and a baby.
After you get to your sweet home, continue developing well established emotional bond with your baby. Activities like skin-to-skin contact after bathing, gentle massages, feeding time and putting your baby to sleep can provide you with precious moments together. With your response full of love, warmth and care to your baby’s needs you can be sure that an emotional connection, vital for the baby’s development, has been successfully established and that it will grow more and more with it.
