Witnessing a newborn instinctively crawl toward the breast to latch is truly mesmerizing. This remarkable act, known as “the breast crawl,” showcases the innate abilities of healthy babies. Typically, all it takes is a mother placing her newborn on her chest or belly, patiently waiting while the baby naturally maneuvers their way to the breast and latches on independently.
I experienced this phenomenon with my second child, and it remains one of my most cherished memories. Despite having read about it beforehand, I was uncertain whether it would work or if my newborn would instinctively know what to do—after all, he had just entered the world! However, after a few moments of relaxation together, he gently pressed his tiny foot against my belly and began inching toward my breast. Soon enough, he was licking my nipple and attempting to suck.
If you haven’t witnessed this incredible moment firsthand, don’t fret! You can catch a glimpse of it here (just a warning: prepare for your ovaries to go into overdrive). It’s astounding, isn’t it? You might be pondering how this little one instinctively knows what to do. Various theories have been proposed, suggesting that a baby’s sense of smell, taste, sight, and instinct collectively guide them to breastfeed.
The Science Behind the Breast Crawl
However, a 2017 study may provide the most compelling explanation yet, and it’s fascinating. It reveals that the body temperatures of both mother and baby play a crucial role: mothers’ nipples actually warm up to help guide their babies, while newborns’ body temperatures drop to enhance the warmth of the nipples.
Published in the journal Acta Paediatrica, the study monitored 41 mothers who gave birth at an Italian hospital in early 2015. All mothers intended to breastfeed and were classified as low-risk pregnancies. After delivery, their babies were placed on their chests for at least 15 minutes, allowing them to crawl toward the breast to latch on.
The researchers measured the mothers’ temperatures at three intervals: roughly six hours before giving birth and again one and two days postpartum. Interestingly, even before labor, the mothers’ nipple temperatures were already 0.4 degrees warmer than their surrounding skin. On delivery day, this increased to 0.9 degrees warmer, and by the second day postpartum, it rose to 1.1 degrees above the surrounding skin.
But that’s not all! The researchers also measured the babies’ lips and foreheads, finding that the babies’ lips were cooler than their foreheads (2.2 degrees cooler on the first day and 1.8 degrees cooler on the second). This created a 3-degree temperature difference between the mothers’ warm nipples and the cooler lips of the babies, making it easier for infants to find their way to the breast.
The theory is that babies are instinctively drawn to the warmth of their mothers’ nipples, which makes perfect sense. The truly astonishing part is that this entire process occurs without any external intervention—it’s all in the biology. As the study’s authors note, “These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that a temperature gradient may support mother‐infant thermal identification and communication in the breast crawl and in the natural progression of the continuum from birth to breastfeeding.” They also suggest that this “thermal cue” between the mother’s nipple and the baby’s lips is just one of several factors at play, alongside the scents of the mother that newborns are already sensitive to at birth.
Encouraging the Experience
Isn’t it remarkable how nature works? While not every mother and baby may be able to experience the breast crawl, I encourage all mothers to give it a try if possible. It’s a beautiful way to bond and kickstart breastfeeding, allowing you to marvel at the wonders of human biology. If you’re curious to learn more about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource here.
Conclusion
In summary, the breast crawl is a biological miracle that highlights the instinctive connection between mother and baby. The unique interplay of body temperatures and sensory cues ensures that newborns can find their way to breastfeeding naturally, bringing an extraordinary sense of wonder to the birthing experience.
Keyphrase: breast crawl phenomenon
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