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Humanized childbirth is the expression used to say that a woman has control over how and in what position she wants and feels comfortable for the birth of her baby. The choice of delivery in bed, pool, sitting or standing, and all other details of the evolution of labor such as the type of anesthesia, light, sound or the presence of family members, is entirely decided by the pregnant woman, for through the delivery plan made. Check out what it is and how to make the birth plan.
In addition, contrary to popular belief, delivery by cesarean section also has the possibility of being humanized, as long as the medical team is trained for the practice, respecting all the pregnant woman's choices during surgery, such as immediate contact with the baby after birth, preference for light intensity, for example.
During humanized delivery, the obstetrician and her team are present to ensure the safety of the mother and baby even when the pregnant woman wants little or no medical intervention at the time of delivery, and for complications in which medical assistance is essential.
Humanized childbirth is about welcoming and supporting, providing a pleasant, comfortable, safe and peaceful experience for the mother and baby. In addition to bringing advantages such as:
1. Reduced level of stress and anxiety
In humanized delivery, the woman has the possibility to wait patiently for the time of the baby's birth, without pressure through the health team. Options such as listening to music, walking, doing gymnastics, going to the pool are provided while waiting, and they are even a way to reduce the pain of contractions.
2. Calm newborn
During the process of being born in a humanized delivery, the baby does not go through situations that were previously common, such as a cold room, separation from the mother in the first seconds of life and unnecessarily loud noises. This makes this baby feel less pain and discomfort, which reduces the frequency of crying.
3. Prolonged breastfeeding
In addition to the woman's physical and psychological well-being, the affective bond between mother and baby is the main pillar for breastfeeding to occur, this is due to the presence of the baby and the suction of the breast in skin-to-skin contact made at the time of birth. Check out the breastfeeding guide for beginners.
4. Reduces risk of postpartum depression
Confidence in yourself, for having respected individual decisions, reduces the chances of the appearance of feelings present in postpartum depression, such as the inability to take care of your baby, fear of not doing a good job, in addition to the feeling of loss of freedom .
5. Strong affective bond
During the entire labor the woman's body releases hormones, which will be essential for the relationship that will be built between the woman and the child, and it is through skin-to-skin contact made immediately after birth, whether by vaginal or cesarean delivery, that this affective bond strengthens and consolidates itself.
6. Reduces the risk of infection
One of the characteristics of humanized childbirth is skin-to-skin contact with the baby at the same moment of birth and it is at this moment that the first feeding takes place. What the baby consumes at the first feeding is the colostrum which, together with the contact with the natural microbiota of the mother's skin, helps to strengthen the baby's immune system, reducing the risk of infections. Check out what colostrum is and its nutritional composition.