Why do Babies Cry after Birth?
A baby crying after birth is considered an ideal situation and with good reason. Once the child is born, doctors usually will work towards using a suction tube to clean out any residual fluid in the baby’s nose and mouth. This allows the bodily systems to be triggered and stimulate a cry. At times, this is done by the baby himself and the lungs kick into action to cry out loud, which also draws in the first breath of his life.
Why is Birth Cry Important?
As you progress in your motherhood, the incessant crying of your baby might leave you irritated to no end. But the first cry is always the most joyous moment of a mother’s life. This assures the doctor as well that your baby has ticked one of the most important signs for survival.
For the entire duration of pregnancy, the baby is supplied the necessary oxygen directly inside the womb via the placenta. In the development of the baby’s body, the lungs are pretty much the last organs to be matured. Furthermore, since the child is fully covered with amniotic fluid in the sac, there is no point in using the lungs for breathing. This is why all the nutrition and oxygen supply reaches the body directly via the umbilical cord and the placenta.
It is primarily due to this biological structure that most doctors will clamp your child’s placenta the moment he is born. Once the baby’s body senses that there is no supply of oxygen from the previous source, it will start stimulating the lungs to begin functioning, and this manifests in the form of a cry as the baby literally asks for its first breath.
Does Baby’s First Cry Help in Breathing?
The lungs don’t mature until quite late in the pregnancy and, even after that, they do not have any function as such. When labor sets in, the fluid starts drying up and this begins to allow the lungs to start doing their function. They begin expanding and contracting gently. However, small amounts of fluid and mucus do remain present inside the lungs, in the airways, in the nostrils, and even in the mouth. This needs to be expelled and the pathways cleared for breathing to take place. The cry is an effort to push them all out, which is why the first cry is usually accompanied by a gurgle and then gets stronger as the air starts being taken in easily.
What if your Newborn Doesn’t Cry at Birth?
A cry is a sign that shows that the lungs of your baby are fit for breathing. If your baby doesn’t start crying immediately, it isn’t necessarily a cause for worry. Many babies are born healthy, in pink, and quite alert with limb movements and all, and might begin to cry a few minutes later. Doctors have a good idea about this and do take additional measures if the baby’s color is not healthy pink and shows signs of a struggle. The suction pump is used quickly to clear pathways of any obstacles. The classic method of spanking the baby is used as a last resort to cause it some pain and make it cry out loud, although many doctors do opt for massaging the baby as well. If all of these methods fail, too, then the baby is shifted to the ICU, and artificial tubes are used to supply oxygen to the body.
