Carrying the baby for 9 months, birth is the most awaited thing. Especially if your pregnancy is the first pregnancy and you plan to provide exclusive breastfeeding. The Early Breastfeeding Initiation or IMD process is an important stage to make it easier for the baby to start the breastfeeding process.
Later, your baby will get colostrum fluid during the early initiation of breastfeeding. What is IMD, and how is the process, let’s look at the following article.
The meaning of IMD is
IMD stands for Early Breastfeeding Initiation, which is a process of breastfeeding a baby carried out by the mother immediately after the baby is born.
The baby will be placed on the mother’s chest and left to find the mother’s nipple on its own. One hour after the baby is born, it only needs to be cleaned, then placed on the mother’s chest. There is no partition that blocks the two. Generally, this process takes 20 to 50 minutes for the baby to find the mother’s nipple.
The Importance of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Newborns
The mother’s body temperature will also keep the baby warm. This IMD process is a very helpful process for subsequent breastfeeding.
In addition, this process will also help to increase the baby’s endurance. A sense of emotion will certainly also emerge, for a moment the mother can see for herself how her child seeks his source of life. Not a few mothers admit to feeling so moved.
In fact, a newborn baby cannot open its eyes yet. But amazingly, it can find its mother’s nipple by itself.
The Indonesian government itself strongly supports the Early Breastfeeding Initiation movement in accordance with WHO policy. Because this action is considered a life-saving process for the baby, and also reduces the percentage of babies who die before the age of 1 month.
This is because during the first breastfeeding process, the baby will be able to sip colostrum. Colostrum is the first drop of breast milk that has very rich nutrients and can also help to maintain the baby’s immune system. This first fluid is yellow and also thick. There is not much colostrum fluid that the baby can get, about only 1 teaspoon but it provides enormous benefits to the baby.
How to Do/IMD Process
Ideally, the way to do IMD is to put your little one on your chest immediately after birth to give him access to the breast. The baby will start to suckle and the mother’s breasts will start to produce colostrum without any help, as reported by the Stanford Medicine website . There will be a lot of colostrum that can be released in the first hour after birth.
When your baby is nursing, point your nipple towards the roof of his mouth. This way he will latch onto your nipple, as well as some of the areola underneath. This means he can draw your nipple and some of your breast tissue into his mouth and latch on well.
Benefits of Early Breastfeeding Initiation You Should Know
Village midwives and many volunteers provide counseling to the community to do this. Because in addition to containing colostrum, Early Breastfeeding Initiation also provides many benefits for both the baby and the mother. Therefore, it is important for you to get information about this process.
So, what are the benefits?
Helping Babies Get Colostrum
The first benefit of IMD is to help babies get colostrum. In addition, it will also increase the success of exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is 6 months old.
That time is the minimum time, you can also provide exclusive breastfeeding until your baby is 2 years old as the policy initiated by WHO. Early Breastfeeding Initiation is supported and recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
As reported on the Very Well Family website , colostrum is the perfect first food for your newborn baby because:
- Colostrum acts as a laxative, helping your baby pass meconium.
- Colostrum to prevent jaundice.
- Colostrum coats the digestive tract and helps prevent infection.
- Colostrum provides immunity to protect against disease.
- Colostrum is very easy to digest.
- Colostrum is also high in protein.
Because the content of breast milk remains the best compared to formula milk sold on the market.
Strengthening the Mother and Baby Relationship
The next benefit in the IMD process is that it can strengthen the relationship between mother and baby. This IMD process facilitates the emotional bond between mother and baby and has a positive impact on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding .
In the video, a mother explains that her child is calmer and less fussy because of early breastfeeding initiation. During the process, the baby will be left without any barriers to touch the mother’s skin. So that it can create intimacy that makes the mother and baby feel more comfortable, even the processrecoverypostpartum is also fast.
Improving Health in Babies
Not only that, this movement can also improve the health of babies. Considering the number of newborn deaths is still common. In terms of economy, the costs incurred are also more efficient. You don’t need to spend additional costs for milk, you only need to meet the mother’s nutrition. Of course, this one movement must be initiated and socialized so that all women realize the importance of giving exclusive breastfeeding.
Helping Mother Recover
The next benefit in the IMD process is to help mothers recover quickly from childbirth. Because when breastfeeding, the baby’s hug will produce oxytocin in the mother’s body, and also make your uterus contract.
In the first hours after birth, this process helps expel your placenta naturally and reduces blood loss.
Protecting Babies from Infection
Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, will protect newborns from infection and reduce newborn mortality.
Source of Nutrition for Babies
When a mother begins breastfeeding within an hour of birth, milk production is stimulated. The first yellow milk (colostrum) is an important source of nutrition and immune protection for the newborn.
Breastfeeding Mothers Have Lower Risk for Depression
Mothers who breastfeed appear to be less likely to experience postpartum depression, compared with mothers who wean early or don’t breastfeed, according to a 2012 study .
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that can develop soon after giving birth. If you have symptoms of PPD, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Breastfeeding Mothers Have a Lower Risk of Developing Several Diseases
Being a breastfeeding mother will give you long-term protection against cancer and several diseases.
The total time a mother spends breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, according to Healthline . Breastfeeding mothers have a lower risk of:
Exclusive breastfeeding is okay if there are obstacles that endanger the health of the mother and baby. However, if it can still be attempted, it would be better to give the baby his rights, namely Exclusive Breastfeeding until the recommended time. That way, the mother will help to improve the health, intelligence and also better development for her baby in the future.
All of the baby’s responses to this first feeding are normal. Be patient, keep trying, and ask for help if needed.
Many hospitals have lactation consultants on staff who are available to help you. If possible, try to use the resources the hospital provides while you’re there to help you feel more comfortable when you go home with your newborn.
That is some information related to IMD, hopefully it is useful.
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
