The Importance of Warmth for your Baby

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read those links, people.
I don't think they say what the poster is claiming.

Sure, read yourself.

Link #1 (CDC) says: "Baby’s milk or infant formula does not need to be warmed before feeding, but some people like to warm their baby’s bottle." https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html

Link #2 (about formula preparation in the NICU) says " samples that had been warmed (P<0.050) and those that were either milk-based or casein hydrolysate (P<0.001) were more likely to be contaminated." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18926137

Link #3 (about warming feeds in the NICU) says "the benefit of warming feedings [for preemies] and to what ideal temperature is still without good evidence... For term infants, feedings may be given at body temperature, room temperature or straight from the refrigerator. " It asks, "Does milk temperature have an effect on overall body temperature? One study found no matter what the milk temperature was, body temperature increased. This is likely related to the increase in metabolic rate following feeding." http://blog.neonatalperspectives.com/2015/05/14/warming-of-infant-feedings/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maintaining health for mothers and babies does nothing for the medical industry profits. On the other hand, surgeries and sickness is HIGHLY profitable.

We decided to have our baby's birth at home. For us, it was the safest option.

Do you shun all medical care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maintaining health for mothers and babies does nothing for the medical industry profits. On the other hand, surgeries and sickness is HIGHLY profitable.

We decided to have our baby's birth at home. For us, it was the safest option.

Do you shun all medical care?

Our Emergency Medical Care is good.
But everything else is shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom.

"'Old world' common sense wisdom" also gave us neonatal tetanus, of course.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19824251
https://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/MNTE_initiative/en/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby. My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me. Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital. She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal. Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves. She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm. Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times. We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me. All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF. DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection. My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.

For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house. After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted. Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered, special food/drink for mom, prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone. Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging, vision problem, heart problems. I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me.

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom.

Yes, it was very nice and sweet until the last paragraph. Not nice to link to think like autism, food allergies, reproduction problems, etc.

Bad medical care can indeed have horrific consequences. We must do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby. My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me. Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital. She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal. Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves. She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm. Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times. We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me. All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF. DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection. My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.

For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house. After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted. Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered, special food/drink for mom, prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone. Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging, vision problem, heart problems. I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me.

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom.

Yes, it was very nice and sweet until the last paragraph. Not nice to link to think like autism, food allergies, reproduction problems, etc.

Bad medical care can indeed have horrific consequences. We must do better.

Yes. Evidence based medicine is vitally important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby. My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me. Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital. She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal. Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves. She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm. Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times. We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me. All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF. DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection. My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.

For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house. After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted. Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered, special food/drink for mom, prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone. Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging, vision problem, heart problems. I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me.

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom.

Yes, it was very nice and sweet until the last paragraph. Not nice to link to think like autism, food allergies, reproduction problems, etc.

Bad medical care can indeed have horrific consequences. We must do better.

Yes. Evidence based medicine is vitally important.

Why does the US have the WORST rate of maternal death in the Developed World?

"Evidence based"? My arse.

[Anonymous]

Wait. You think evidence based medicine is bad? This thread is so kooky. I guess we can all just pray to the Woo Gods for good health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby. My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me. Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital. She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal. Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves. She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm. Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times. We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me. All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF. DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection. My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.

For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house. After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted. Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered, special food/drink for mom, prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone. Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging, vision problem, heart problems. I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me.

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom.

Yes, it was very nice and sweet until the last paragraph. Not nice to link to think like autism, food allergies, reproduction problems, etc.

Bad medical care can indeed have horrific consequences. We must do better.

Yes. Evidence based medicine is vitally important.

Why does the US have the WORST rate of maternal death in the Developed World?

"Evidence based"? My arse.

Because lots of hospitals in the US don't use evidence based medicine with maternity care- it's a huge problem! Our C-section rates are through the roof, for example, and it's all because of lawsuit-avoidant doctors (because of our litigious society, but that's a different issue).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait. You think evidence based medicine is bad? This thread is so kooky. I guess we can all just pray to the Woo Gods for good health.

Woo = “evidence”
actual evidence = woo
Meanwhile they ignore the actual causes of maternal mortality (poverty, health care disparities, lack of clear protocols)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait. You think evidence based medicine is bad? This thread is so kooky. I guess we can all just pray to the Woo Gods for good health.

Profit-based medicine is what we now have, especially in obstetrics and the sky-high rate of Cesarean surgeries.

Surgery = Big Profits

Quietly waiting until Mother & Baby are ready
= boring for doctors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait. You think evidence based medicine is bad? This thread is so kooky. I guess we can all just pray to the Woo Gods for good health.

Profit-based medicine is what we now have, especially in obstetrics and the sky-high rate of Cesarean surgeries.

Surgery = Big Profits

Quietly waiting until Mother & Baby are ready
= boring for doctors

Right- and I think (I hope??) we all agree that's a bad thing. Evidence based medicine is terrific, always. Saying "the US has high maternal mortality rates so screw evidence based medicine!" is just uneducated, since what you should be saying is "the uS has high maternal mortality rates so WE SHOULD START PRACTICING ACTUAL EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE"

[Anonymous]

We need more educated midwives and doulas for families who want better options. Doctors can be helpful for high-risk pregnancies. Most of us are not high-risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need more educated midwives and doulas for families who want better options. Doctors can be helpful for high-risk pregnancies. Most of us are not high-risk.

DC area has a fair number of CNMs I think- I know maryland does at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby. My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me. Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital. She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal. Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves. She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm. Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times. We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me. All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF. DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection. My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.

For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house. After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted. Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered, special food/drink for mom, prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone. Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging, vision problem, heart problems. I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me.

PP, I’m glad you found this to be wonderful and nurturing and loved the experience, but I was claustrophobic just reading it... secluded with a newborn in a hot room and not allowed to be out or do anything for nearly 2 months?! I don’t think I could take it. I was going stir crazy pretty fast, and was out walking with my newborn in a sling within 48 hours after I delivered, with both kids. One was a winter baby. He’s a happy, active toddler now... the cold air doesn’t seem to have hurt him any. TBD with #2, she’s still an infant.