Kangaroo mother care: WHO tip for survival of low birth-weight infants

New Delhi: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a simple method of care for low birthweight infants that includes early and prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother and frequent breastfeeding, has been in practice in India for decades and now the World Health Organisation (WHO) has included this practice in its new guidelines to improve survival and health outcomes for babies born early.

The guidelines advise that skin-to-skin contact with a caregiver — known as Kangaroo Mother Care — should start immediately after birth, without any initial period in an incubator.

Because preterm babies lack body fat, many have problems regulating their own temperature when they are born, and they often require medical assistance with breathing. For these babies, the WHO says, previous recommen dations were for an initial period of separation from their primary caregiver, with the baby first stabilised in an incubator or warmer. This would take on average, around 3-7 days. However, the UN health body adds that research has shown that starting kangaroo mother care immediately after birth saves many more lives, reduces infections and improves feeding.