Breast Crawl... what is the point?

[*Efjay*]

This is a real question as I just don't get it.
I understand the concept behind the breast crawl but what I have trouble understanding is this..

We as humans instinctively ( I assume) pick our baby up. cuddle it & give it warmth etc. It seems so un-natural to me to leave the baby to make its own way to the breast.
I personally feel it is much more natural to scoop my baby up & snuggle with this new child while placing him/her at the breast.
I can understand the breast crawl in animals like dogs & cats. But even they bring their new being a little closer to the teat when they lick & remove the sac etc. Then the pup/kitten finds its way to the teat. But as humans we have hands & nice long arms to cradle our new baby in.

So can some one please explain the point behind the breast crawl?

[Lolli]

I'm quite interested to know the answer to this too...

[Willow]

That's a really good point actually FJ. I looked into it before DS was born and have watched lots of videos etc but to be honest, I wasn't feeling well enough after his birth to try it. He pretty much attached beautifully with very little help from me and we never looked back.

But reading your post, I really agree that just leaving a new baby there to 'do it's thing' ...I dunno, I think I'd feel weird and would want to snuggle too

[*Efjay*]

Part of me kinda gets it in regards to say a csection but really even then im not 100% sure.

I know the idea of the baby finding the breast help for a better attachment etc but I just don't understand how it really applies to a species that is capable of picking up a newborn.

[briggsy's girl]

i can see both points i guess

the urge to snuggle your baby and help it to find it's way is a natural instinctive desire - you're a mum - you do what you can to make life easy for baby asap

on the other hand, my understanding is that by allowingbaby to find it's own way to the breast, IT's natural instinct to feed will take over. it will seek out the scent of the breast without being overwhelmed by having it forced on them kwim? not that i think helping your baby is a bad thing!!!! from what i've read though, it's more that, baby finding the breast in it's own time means it's instincts take over rather than trying to do something it's not ready for at that point...

i initially wanted to have the breast crawl as part of our birth plan - and still intend to work on establishing breast feeding asap - but i'm not sure if i have the patience to NOT cuddle my precious newborn as soon as it arrives!

[*Efjay*]

i
on the other hand, my understanding is that by allowingbaby to find it's own way to the breast, IT's natural instinct to feed will take over. it will seek out the scent of the breast without being overwhelmed by having it forced on them kwim? not that i think helping your baby is a bad thing!!!! from what i've read though, it's more that, baby finding the breast in it's own time means it's instincts take over rather than trying to do something it's not ready for at that point...

Hmmm now that makes sence LOL. I hadn't really thought about the baby's instinct..

I went to give you rep point BG but I gotta spread the lurrrve

[briggsy's girl]

glad it made sense cos DAMN it's hard to get them thoughts in order sometimes! i knew what i was trying to say, but the words just wouldn't come!

i think it's something to do with the baby experiencing a lot during the birth as well, and immediately after that it may not be ready to actually feed yet - needs time to find that relaxed mind set where feeding is going to be most effective...