In the immediate postnatal period, mommy falls are of special concern . Mothers who are awake and able to respond to their newborn infant immediately after birth can suddenly become unexpectedly sleepy, ill, or for a variety of other reasons, unable to continue holding their infant. Mom may fall, the baby may be dropped and both could be injured.
Don't get me wrong, early bonding and skin-to-skin contact are to be encouraged. But like most things, precautions should be taken. Here’s some precautions:
1 position the infant so that the face can be seen
2 keep the infant’s head in the sniffing position
3 do not cover the baby’s nose or mouth
4. keep the neck straight
5 make sure the infants shoulders and chest face the mother
6 flex the infants legs
7 keep the infant’s back covered with a blanket
8. cover the infant’s head with an infant cap
9. have someone available to call if you become light headed
10 when mother wants to sleep, place the infant in a bassinet
Reference: pediatrics.aappublications.org.