Effective suckling in relation to naked maternal-infant body contact in the first hour of life: an observation study

Background Best practice guidelines to promote breastfeeding suggest that (i) mothers hold their babies in naked body contact immediately after birth, (ii) babies remain undisturbed for at least one hour and (iii) breastfeeding assistance be offered during this period. Few studies have closely observed the implementation of these guidelines in practice. We sought to evaluate these practices on suckling achievement within the first hour after birth. Methods Observations of seventy-eight mother-baby dyads recorded newborn feeding behaviours, the help received by mothers and birthing room practices each minute, for sixty minutes. Results Duration of naked body contact between mothers and their newborn babies varied widely from 1 to 60 minutes, as did commencement of suckling (range = 10 to 60 minutes). Naked maternal-infant body contact immediately after birth, uninterrupted for at least thirty minutes did not predict effective suckling within the first hour of birth. Newborns were four times more likely to sustain deep rhythmical suckling when their chin made contact with their mother’s breast as they approached the nipple (OR 3.8; CI 1.03 - 14) and if their mothers had given birth previously (OR 6.7; CI 1.35 - 33). Infants who had any naso-oropharyngeal suctioning administered at birth were six times less likely to suckle effectively (OR .176; CI .04 - .9). Conclusion Effective suckling within the first hour of life was associated with a collection of practices including infants positioned so their chin can instinctively nudge the underside of their mother’s breast as they approach to grasp the nipple and attach to suckle. The best type of assistance provided in the birthing room that enables newborns to sustain an effective latch was paying attention to newborn feeding behaviours and not administering naso-oropharyngeal suction routinely

Overview of the RF Synchronization System for the European XFEL

One of the most important requirements for the European XFEL RF system is to assure a very precise RF field stability within the accelerating cavities. The required amplitude and phase stability equals respectively dA/A <3·10-5, dphi<0.01 deg @ 1.3GHz in the injector and dA/A<10-3, dphi <0.1 deg @1.3GHz in the main LINAC section. Fulfilling such requirements for the 3.4 km long facility is a very challenging task. Thousands of electronic and RF devices must be precisely phase synchronized by means of harmonic RF signals. We describe the proposed architecture of the RF Master Oscillator and the Phase Reference Distribution System designed to assure high precision and reliability. A system of RF cable based interferometers supported by femtosecond-stable optical links will be used to distribute RF reference signals with required short and long term phase stability. We also present test results of prototype devices performed to validate our concept

Operation Experiences with the MICROTCA.4-based LLRF Control System at FLASH

The Free-Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg Germany is a user facility providing ultra-short, femtosecond laser pulses up to the soft X-ray wavelength range. For the precise regulation of the radio frequency (RF) fields within the 60 superconducting cavities, which are organized in 5 RF stations, digital low level RF (LLRF) control systems based on the MTCA.4 standard were implemented in 2013. Until now experiences with failures potentially due to radiation, overheating, and ageing as well as with the general operation of the control systems have been gained. These have a direct impact on the operation and on the performance of FLASH and will allow future improvements. The lessons learned are not only important for FLASH but also in the scope of European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (X-FEL), which will be operated with the same LLRF control system