New resources released to help more preterm and low birthweight babies benefit from kangaroo mother care (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This article was originally published by WHO. Mothers and babies should stay together after birth even when the baby is small or sick Today, WHO released two new resources to support wider uptake of kangaroo mother care (KMC) – a lifesaving technique which includes ongoing skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding – to benefit more small … Continued

Born Too Soon -2023 Decade of Action on Preterm Birth Press Release

Born Too Soon HNN Team

This press release was originally published by PMNCH.  152 million babies born preterm in the last decade GENEVA/NEW YORK/CAPE TOWN, 10 May 2023: Of every 10 babies born, 1 is preterm – and every 40 seconds, 1 of those babies dies Preterm birth rates have not changed in the past decade in any region of … Continued

A child or youth died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report (WHO)

WHO News HNN Team

This news release is taken from WHO. Another 1.9 million babies were tragically stillborn during the same period, according to a separate UN report. NEW YORK/GENEVA/WASHINGTON D.C., 10 January 2023 – An estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, … Continued

WHO advises immediate skin to skin care for survival of small and preterm babies

World Health Organization HNN Team

This news release is taken from WHO. WHO today launched new guidelines to improve survival and health outcomes for babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or small (under 2.5kg at birth). The guidelines advise that skin to skin contact with a caregiver – known as kangaroo mother care – should start immediately after birth, without … Continued

Why it’s so hard to treat pain in infants (National Geographic)

National Geographic HNN Team

This article was originally published by National Geographic.  BY SHARON GUYNUP PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 11, 2021 “For decades physicians believed that premature babies didn’t experience pain. Here’s what doctors know now – and the innovative solutions being embraced by today’s caregivers. Doctors once believed that infants—especially premature babies—did not feel pain, and if they did, they would … Continued

Nearly one in five babies in Brazil born ‘small’ and at risk of early childhood death

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine News (website) Brazil HNN Team

This article was originally published by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. New identification of small vulnerable newborns at higher risk of mortality could be a step towards preventing neonatal deaths. 18% of babies born in Brazil over seven years were born ‘small’ –  either preterm, small for gestational age (SGA) or with … Continued