I saw a reel on how african doctors will slap the baby for them to cry and i know for a fact that this is true and there must be a reason behind it but i just don’t get it
In: Other
I always thought (and have been told) it is to stimulate the baby’s breathing of air, because for 9 months prior they have not been breathing the air we do. So painful stimulation is needed to get the baby to cry thereby breathing.
To make sure their lungs are clear and their nervous system is working (im guessing with the smacking). Its not about pain though but using appropriate stimuli to get a reaction and check vitals.
A baby needs to start breathing on their own, not rely on oxygen from the umbilical cord, after birth. If a bay is crying, that’s a pretty obvious sign that they’re breathing normally, and a good thing. You’re not trying to hurt the baby, just get it to realize it’s not where it was a moment ago.
[removed]
The crying isn’t the important detail it’s the breathing, and crying indicates breathing is happening.
There is a fascinating thing that happens during birth (many actually). In the womb there is liquid and no air and the baby is getting oxygen through the umbilical cord. If they were to breath in the lungs would be filled with fluid (bad). Just after the baby is born it takes its first breath ever (what triggers that I’m not quite sure but it’s complicated and there is something that switches in the heart too to direct blood to the lungs I think). This can go wrong sometimes resulting in a baby that “forgets” to breath.
So .. it’s a signal that doctors look for to ensure it’s breathing and you can’t cry if you can’t breath.
As the social worker told my wife and I after our first “a crying baby is an alive baby”. I know they were talking about the baby when it’s at home and parents need a break, but it fits here.
Also my first born didn’t make a sound for about 30 mins. Still scored 9 on APGAR. Sadly for wife and I, she hasn’t been quiet since.
The baby doesn’t need to cry. It just needs to breathe. The birth attendant may suction out its nose and mouth. That’s likely to stimulate gasping and is often followed by a cry because they poked the baby in the face. In most of the West, the baby is suctioned at birth, then wrapped up to stay warm and placed on the mom’s chest. If there isn’t good quality breathing right away, the birth attendant generally takes the baby to a warming bed and rubs it all over. If that doesn’t work, they use an oxygen bag and mask to give airflow. It’s not recommended to hit the baby or shake it, as it’s ok for it to cry but not ok to hurt it.
don’t doctors do it in the US? it’s the most normal thing in latin america too
I had a fever when I was in labor and the doc told me that my baby might not be crying when they came out. So it definitely is an indicator if the baby is healthy or they have trouble breathing.
A crying baby is a breathing baby and generally speaking we prefer our babies to be breathing.
Latest Answers