Closer contact for new mums after caesarean births in Burnley

New mums in Burnley can now experience the magic of holding their baby skin-to-skin immediately following the birth thanks to a new initiative by maternity staff in the town.
Baby Friendly Midwife Danika Pendlebury, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Mrs Liz Martindale, Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Michael Pollard, Theatre Nurse Sharon Stone, Dr Adam Brook ST3 and Junior Theatre Sister Charlotte PellsBaby Friendly Midwife Danika Pendlebury, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Mrs Liz Martindale, Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Michael Pollard, Theatre Nurse Sharon Stone, Dr Adam Brook ST3 and Junior Theatre Sister Charlotte Pells
Baby Friendly Midwife Danika Pendlebury, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Mrs Liz Martindale, Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Michael Pollard, Theatre Nurse Sharon Stone, Dr Adam Brook ST3 and Junior Theatre Sister Charlotte Pells

Immediate skin-to-skin care is a natural process that involves placing a newborn on the mother’s chest directly after the birth at Burnley’s Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre.Previously, mothers in East Lancashire could not benefit from immediate skin-to-skin as they are separated from their babies following a caesarean birth.Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Mrs Liz Martindale said: “The routine process for caesarean section births was a screen placed in front of the mother which meant she could see her baby being born.“For skin-to-skin care after a caesarean birth, the mother and her child must stay together.“We received many requests from couples wishing for a gentler, more personal caesarean birth experience, and hospital staff have worked to provide immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact.”Skin-to-skin contact offers many benefits including an increase in breastfeeding initiation, decreased time to the first breastfeed, increased bonding and stronger maternal satisfaction.

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