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A recent study shows that allowing newborns to instinctively move to the breast for feeding, known as the "breast crawl," has benefits, including higher success rates of initial breastfeeding and having milk come in sooner. If the breast crawl isn't possible, most benefits can still be gained through basic skin-to-skin contact with your baby, said Jenelle Ferry, M.D., a board-certified neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Florida. “Many studies in the U.S. have provided evidence of early skin-to-skin contact with newborns to improve breastfeeding, help regulate baby's temperature and glucose control,” said Dr. Ferry. The difference is that this new breast crawl study points out the importance of placing the infant’s body in full contact with the birthing parent, she said. It also notes the need to allow your baby time and space to use their breast crawl reflexes.
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