Delivery Self-Attachment

Shot in Sweden this confusing short (it's six minutes long) is connected with a study conducted by pediatrician Lennart Righard, M.D. The study which was published in The Lancet in 1990 examined 72 mothers and infants in two groups. As near as I could tell, one group included mothers whose infants were placed on their abdomens right after birth to see if they would "delivery self-attach" (i.e. wriggle up and start feeding without aid); the other group concerned babies who were taken away and bathed and measured before being returned to the mother's abdomen. Basically the video consists of footage of babies attempting to "self-attach" or not, while additional variables concerning medicated and non-medicated labors are added to the mix. The bummer is that, at no time, are we told what the results of the study were. Although the number 72 is most definitely mentioned at the beginning, we're given no clue about the numbers of successful or unsuccessful "delivery self-attachments" which occurred during the experiment. While the idea itself--that newborns can begin suckling of their own accord immediately following birth--is interesting, this program won't even serve as an introduction to the subject. It's merely confusing. Not recommended. (Available from: Geddes Productions, 10546 McVine, Sunland, CA 91040; (818) 951-2809.)