Breast crawl

Breast crawl is the instinct of mammal (including human) newborns to move towards the nipple and attach to it for breastfeeding all by themselves.[1] In humans, if the newborn baby is put on the mother's abdomen, the movements start 12 to 44 minutes after birth, followed by spontaneous suckling at 27 to 71 minutes after birth.[2]

The infants use their sense of smell in finding the nipple, as shown in a 1994 study in which one of the breasts was washed with unscented soap and the baby preferred the other one.[1] They also use visual stimuli (such as the mother's face and the breast's areola) and auditory (the mother's voice).[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Marchlewska-Koj, Anna; Lepri, John J.; Müller-Schwarze, Dietland (2012-12-06). Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 9. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 419. ISBN 9781461506713.
  2. 1 2 Desai, Daftary & (2008-01-01). Selected Topics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology-4: For Postgraudate and Practitioners. BI Publications Pvt Ltd. p. 281. ISBN 9788172253066.
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