{"id":18722,"date":"2016-08-03T13:19:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T17:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/?p=18722"},"modified":"2016-08-03T14:06:19","modified_gmt":"2016-08-03T18:06:19","slug":"skin-skin-contact-can-save-newborns-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/blog\/skin-skin-contact-can-save-newborns-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin-To-Skin Contact Can Save A Newborn’s Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"rachel\"By Rachel Schrader,\u00a0manager of corporate communications for World Vision Canada<\/a>. <\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Rachel is the busy mom of two little ones under five. She lives near Toronto.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Labour hit me hard. The hospital was a blur. All I can remember is the intense labour pain and the nurses rushing in and out of my room, making split-second decisions that would determine whether or not I delivered a healthy baby.<\/p>\n

Inside me, the baby I had longed for was also struggling. A severe drop in my baby’s heart rate left the doctors with only one choice – an emergency C-section. Before I knew it, I was being whisked down the hall to the operating room. Despite the chaos and pain, I’ll never forget the look of panic on one nurse’s face.<\/p>\n

When the ordeal was over, I was the proud mother of a beautiful, healthy, baby girl who just happened to have the umbilical cord wrapped around her whole body at birth. Despite my overwhelming sense of relief and joy, my body was still reeling from her dramatic entry.<\/p>\n

For whatever reason, shock or surgery itself, my entire body was shivering and shaking. I couldn’t calm down. Warm blankets, my husband’s loving touch, or even deep breathing didn’t help. I was beyond frustrated. At the very moment I was to begin the job of being a capable, strong mother, I had lost control of my own body.<\/p>\n

Skin-to-skin contact<\/strong><\/p>\n

But then something incredible happened. The nurses handed my new baby girl over to me for the first time, and in that moment, it was like someone had flicked a switch. Eliana was placed on me, her skin right next to mine, and it felt like everything in the world went instantly still — including my once-shaking body.<\/p>\n

I looked down, and just like her mommy, Ellie was amazingly calm. Before I knew it, she began to breastfeed for the first time, without any help or guidance from myself or the nurses. Both of us were automatically in sync. It was the most amazing experience, especially because I was a first-time mom.<\/p>\n

\"2016-08-02-1470161951-9508430-KangarooCareRachelEllie.jpg\"
I kept Ellie close to my skin for days afterward, as she became increasingly comfortable with breastfeeding. (Photo: Jonathan Schrader)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It didn’t take me long to realize that what we were doing was called kangaroo mother care. I had read about it in parenting books, and learned about it in pre-natal class. It is often a perfect scenario for pre-term babies who have left the comfort of a mother’s womb too soon.<\/p>\n

For me and Ellie, who was born at term, kangaroo mother care worked to calm us both down and kick-start our breastfeeding journey. But for moms who don’t have access to a hospital, it can take the place of a life-saving incubator. Kangaroo mother care can literally be the difference between life and death for a baby.<\/p>\n

It is especially critical for premature babies. Nowhere is it more important than in rural regions of developing countries where hospitals aren’t readily close by, and life-saving equipment like an incubator is almost certainly not available.<\/p>\n

Lacking health care<\/strong><\/p>\n

In some of the world’s poorest places, families go without even the most basic health care. The result for premature babies is tragic: half of those born two months early will die.<\/p>\n

“More than 90 per cent of extremely pre-term babies born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life”, says Dr. Amanuel Gidebo, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health expert at World Vision Canada. “That’s compared to less than 10 per cent who die in high-income settings.” Here in Canada, our newborn mortality rate is less than five per 1,000 live births.<\/p>\n

Working at World Vision Canada, I have come to learn that pre-term birth is now the leading cause of death in children under five. More than 75 per cent of those deaths can be prevented with approaches that aren’t costly or complicated — like kangaroo mother care. Dr. Gidebo describes it as “continuous skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her baby, both in hospital and after early discharge.”<\/p>\n

“It offers support for positioning, feeding, as well as prevention and management of infections and breathing difficulties”, says Dr. Gidebo. It also simulates an incubator, and provides a warm and comforting environment for babies. One of the most important aspects of kangaroo mother care is the convenience of being able to breastfeed at any time, something that can make all the difference to a baby’s survival.<\/p>\n

\"2016-08-02-1470162067-4768644-KangarooCareSave2.jpg\"
A mother caring for her newborn baby learns to wrap her little one close to her skin. (Photo: Save the Children)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This World Breastfeeding Week,<\/a> I think back to my experience with my newborn daughter, who is now a thriving three-year-old. Her birth didn’t exactly go as planned. I wouldn’t wish that kind of stress on any mom in the delivery room. But I do wish every new mom could have that same sense of peace and serenity that comes from that amazing skin-to-skin contact as well as the ease of breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

I especially want this for those mothers in developing countries who have to deliver their babies in less-than-ideal circumstances. For some of them, kangaroo mother care could make all the difference in the world.<\/p>\n

“Kangaroo Mother Care has the potential to save the lives of millions of pre-term babies in low-resource settings,” says Dr. Gidebo.<\/p>\n

To learn more about an exciting new initiative that aims to help mothers in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Mali achieve healthy full-term pregnancies and care for pre-term babies, please visit www.BornOnTime.org.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post. By Rachel Schrader,\u00a0manager of corporate communications for World Vision Canada. Rachel is the busy mom of two little ones under five. She lives near Toronto. Labour hit me hard. The hospital was a blur. All I can remember is the intense labour pain and the nurses rushing … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7211,"featured_media":18723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHealthy Newborn Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/blog\/skin-skin-contact-can-save-newborns-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Skin-To-Skin Contact Can Save A Newborn's Life - Healthy Newborn Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post. 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World Vision's nearly 40,000 staff and volunteers support worldwide implementation of child-focused, community-based multi-sector initiatives including education, health, economic development, microfinance, gender and development, peacebuilding, climate change, food security, agriculture, water and sanitation. World Vision’s current priority areas of health intervention focus on the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five and include: nutrition, prevention and treatment of malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and family planning, maternal and neonatal health. WV also addresses special health interventions, including HIV, neglected tropical diseases, and tuberculosis. World Vision works closely with host country health ministries to increase access to basic primary health care services and strengthen health care systems, structures, and personnel. The organization works to identify at-risk locations, including emergencies, preposition resources and personnel in high-risk zones, and build capacity and resilience among communities to help them protect themselves and rebuild. The organization also works to empower communities to conduct community-led advocacy for their rights at local, national and international levels to change unjust policies and practices.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What we do<\/h2>\r\n<p>World Vision is in nearly 100 countries all over the world and across the following regions: North America, Latin America, South America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Europe, Australia. <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"World Vision International","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"world-vision-international","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2016-01-21 20:09:53","post_modified_gmt":"2016-01-21 20:09:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/?post_type=partner&p=867","menu_order":0,"post_type":"partner","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"issues":[{"ID":128,"post_author":"7211","post_date":"2015-10-21 15:19:45","post_date_gmt":"2015-10-21 15:19:45","post_content":"<p>[vc_row full_width=\"stretch_row\" css=\".vc_custom_1453403441710{margin-top: -60px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text]Transforming care for the 30 million newborns who require medical care, and who are currently being left behind, is a smart investment in the health and development of future generations. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is one of the leading proven interventions that can radically improve inpatient care for small and sick newborns, leading to shorter hospitalizations and improved health outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>KMC refers to the practice of providing early, continuous, prolonged skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, exclusive breastmilk feeding, and follow-up care with high-risk newborns. It has shown to decrease mortality and morbidity in preterm and low birthweight infants by providing protection from infection; regulating temperature, breathing, and brain activity; and encouraging mother-baby bonding. In many cases, newborns who receive KMC are able to be discharged early from the hospital and KMC can be continued at home. When delivered as a complete package, it is highly effective at reducing newborn mortality \u2013 up to 40% according to recent data.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" el_class=\"issue-stats\"][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-red\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">14.7<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1690899267181{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">percent of infants with low birthweight globally (2020)<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-yellow\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">27<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1666024070330{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">percent of infants who were not weighed at birth globally (2014-2020)<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-blue\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">40<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1466618727036{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">percentage reduction in mortality of low birthweight infants (<2000g) who receive KMC compared to conventional neonatal care*<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1545998791435{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cochranelibrary.com\/cdsr\/doi\/10.1002\/14651858.CD002771.pub4\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #808080;\">*\u00a0Conde\u2010Agudelo and Diaz\u2010Rossello. 2016<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>All data on this page represents the most recent data available, unless otherwise noted. Please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/numbers\/\">Newborn Numbers<\/a>\u00a0page and download the Excel spreadsheet to explore the data further.<\/em><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=\"stretch_row\" css=\".vc_custom_1452735746534{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}\"][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=\"yes\"][vc_column_inner width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>KMC implementation<\/h4>\n<p><img class=\"wp-image-1622 size-full alignnone\" src=\"\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/hnn-content\/uploads\/small-kmcimplementation.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"570\" height=\"230\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.who.int\/media\/docs\/default-source\/mca-documents\/nbh\/standards-for-improving-the-quality-of-care-for-small-and-sick-newborns-in-health-facilities-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=f2da583c_1\">recommends KMC<\/a> for the routine care of newborns weighing 2000 grams or less at birth, regardless of availability of incubator care. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2026486\">Recent studies<\/a> are showing a significant decrease (25%) in morbidity and mortality for newborns who begin KMC immediately after birth, especially in newborns weighing between 1 kg and 1.79 kg. KMC can and should be started as soon as possible following birth, and can occur while stabilizing care is provided to the mother and newborn (eg, newborn receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for respiratory distress). Additionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/effect-of-community-initiated-kangaroo-mother-care-on-postpartum-depressive-symptoms-and-stress-among-mothers-of-low-birth-weight-infants-a-randomized-clinical-trial\/\">recent studies<\/a> have shown that KMC can be effectively implemented at home for newborns who are born outside of a facility, although all small newborns should receive post-natal care and follow-up with health care providers.<\/p>\n<p>There is a global push advocating for skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn for one hour immediately following birth for all newborns, regardless of size at birth. While skin-to-skin contact is a key component of KMC, skin-to-skin alone is not sufficient for small newborns. All small newborns should receive complete KMC care, depending on facility and national protocols.<\/p>\n<p>KMC is considered a part of family-centered, respectful newborn and maternal care. It can be implemented during the full continuum of care, and is especially effective transitioning from the facility to the household. Providers should be trained to educate mothers and fathers in home-based continued KMC, and encourage its use at the home following discharge. Additionally, early and immediate KMC can also support positive early development, beyond the physical health benefits and morbidity prevention.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Accelerating KMC uptake<\/h4>\n<p><img class=\"wp-image-1621 size-full alignnone\" src=\"\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/hnn-content\/uploads\/small-acceleratingthisintervention.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"570\" height=\"230\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Despite the many benefits of KMC, country-level adoption and implementation have been limited, and only a small proportion of newborns who could benefit from KMC receive it. Barriers to KMC implementation at the facility level include inadequate facilities and supplies for KMC, insufficient staffing in facilities, lack of training and prioritization of KMC by facility staff, and inadequate policy and professional commitment to KMC. At the family and community level, barriers include cultural norms that make practice of skin-to-skin care difficult, lack of family and financial support for mothers to practice KMC, limited understanding of KMC, and stressors related to extended hospitalization.<\/p>\n<p>The COVID-19 pandemic was and continues to be a barrier for implementation of KMC in most settings. Infection prevention measures during the pandemic led to more newborns being separated from their mothers immediately following birth, even low birthweight and preterm newborns who would benefit from KMC. It is critical that infection prevention policies and government agencies do not recommend separation of mother and newborn, so that all vulnerable newborns receive KMC, even during COVID-19 outbreaks and infections.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_cta h2=\"Small and Sick Newborn Community of Practice\" txt_align=\"center\" color=\"sandy-brown\"]KMC features prominently as one of the core elements of care for the small or sick newborn.\u00a0 A new community of practice, the Small and Sick Newborn CoP (SSNB CoP) is an interactive platform that enables practitioners and experts to exchange ideas, share lessons learned, disseminate and discuss implementation research results and evidence regarding KMC and the other essential interventions comprising quality care of small for sick newborns.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ibpnetwork.org\/topics\/14356\">Click here<\/a>\u00a0to register for SSNC CoP and access webinars, networking, resources, events and much more.[\/vc_cta][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=\"Key resources\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text]<strong>Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/global-position-paper-on-kangaroo-mother-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Position Paper on Kangaroo Mother Care: A transformative innovation in healthcare (2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/kangaroo-mother-care-implementation-strategy-for-scale-up-adaptable-to-different-country-contexts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kangaroo Mother Care: Implementation strategy for scale-up adaptable to different country contexts (2023)\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/who-recommendations-for-care-of-the-preterm-or-low-birth-weight-infant\/\">WHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant (2022)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.who.int\/media\/docs\/default-source\/mca-documents\/nbh\/standards-for-improving-the-quality-of-care-for-small-and-sick-newborns-in-health-facilities-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=f2da583c_1\">Standards for improving the quality of care for small and sick newborns in health facilities (2020)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/survive-and-thrive-transforming-care-for-every-small-and-sick-newborn\/\">Survive and Thrive: Transforming care for every small and sick newborn (2018)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/joint-statement-international-recommendations-interventions-improve-preterm-birth-outcomes\/\">Joint Statement: International WHO Recommendations on Interventions to Improve Preterm Birth Outcomes (2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/kmcjointstatement\/\">Kangaroo Mother Care Joint Statement (2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/kangaroo-mother-care-challenge-brief\/\">Kangaroo Mother Care challenge brief (2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/kangaroo-mother-care-implementation-guide\/\">Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Guide (2012)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Research<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/effect-on-neonatal-sepsis-following-immediate-kangaroo-mother-care-in-a-newborn-intensive-care-unit\/\">Effect on neonatal sepsis following immediate kangaroo mother care in a newborn intensive care unit: a post-hoc analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial (2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12884-021-03646-3\">Barriers and facilitators of facility-based kangaroo mother care in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review (2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2026486\">Immediate \u201cKangaroo Mother Care\u201d and Survival of Infants with Low Birth Weight (2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(19)32223-8\/fulltext\">Effect of community-initiated kangaroo mother care on survival of infants with low birthweight: a randomised controlled trial (2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4750435\/\">Kangaroo mother care: a systematic review of barriers and enablers (2015)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Country Specific Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/scaling-up-kangaroo-mother-care-in-ethiopia-and-india-a-multi-site-implementation-research-study\/\">Scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care in Ethiopia and India: a multi-site implementation research study (2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/mother-newborn-care-unit-mncu-experience-in-india-a-paradigm-shift-in-care-of-small-and-sick-newborns\/\">Mother\u2011Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) Experience in India: A Paradigm Shift in Care of Small and Sick Newborns (2022)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/3\"][vc_single_image image=\"20053\" img_size=\"medium\" onclick=\"custom_link\" link=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/kangaroo-mother-care-toolkit\/\"][vc_btn title=\"Kangaroo mother care toolkit\" color=\"1\" link=\"url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthynewbornnetwork.org%2Fkangaroo-mother-care-toolkit%2F|||\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","post_title":"Kangaroo Mother Care","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"kangaroo-mother-care","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-08-01 10:14:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-08-01 14:14:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/?post_type=issue&p=128","menu_order":0,"post_type":"issue","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":132,"post_author":"7211","post_date":"2015-10-21 15:20:24","post_date_gmt":"2015-10-21 15:20:24","post_content":"<p>[vc_row full_width=\"stretch_row\" css=\".vc_custom_1453403441710{margin-top: -60px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2>Early and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child\u2019s life reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood. Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but the mother and family also, as it is free of cost and reduces the risk of infection in newborns, enhances neurodevelopment, and reduces the risk of acquiring certain non-communicable illnesses in adulthood. Breastmilk substitutes and animal milk not only lack essential immune-building components, they also expose the infant to an increased risk of infection and morbidity.<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" el_class=\"issue-stats\"][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-red\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">44<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1690991173051{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">percentage of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed (2015-2020)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-yellow\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">800<\/span>k<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1690991296488{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">number of infant deaths that can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6735804\/\">attributed to suboptimal breastfeeding practices<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner el_class=\"text-blue\" width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"ticker\">20<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\".vc_custom_1690991361409{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}\"]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">percentage reduction in risk of newborn death when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5025980\/#:~:text=About%2020%25%20of%20all%20neonatal,the%20neonatal%20period%20%5B17%5D.\">breastfeeding is initiated within one hour of birth<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=\"middle\"][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>All data on this page represents the most recent data available, unless otherwise noted. Please visit our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/numbers\/\">Newborn Numbers<\/a>\u00a0page and download the Excel spreadsheet to explore the data further.<\/em><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=\"stretch_row\" css=\".vc_custom_1452696349804{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;background-color: #f6f6f4 !important;}\"][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=\"More information\" color=\"custom\" accent_color=\"#cccccc\"][vc_row_inner equal_height=\"yes\"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Human milk feeding and breastfeeding have immediate and long-term benefits for all babies, including the preterm and low birth weight. Feeding small and sick newborns is challenging because of immaturity or medical conditions that interfere with effective oral feeding. Moreover, small newborns are further affected by variation in the gut microbiome and increased risk for infections.<\/p>\n<p>They often need care in special or intensive care units, which commonly results in separation from their mothers, creating additional challenges to feeding. Care for small and sick newborns must include the promotion of safe and optimal use of human milk (with cup or nasogastric tube), and subsequent transition to breastfeeding, to achieve adequate gain weight and growth in these infants. Staff caring for these babies require specific knowledge and competencies, as well as sufficient supplies for feeding small and sick newborns.<\/p>\n<p>Studies have shown that Early Total Enteral Feeding (ETEF) is safe and decreases the incidence of infections, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), enhances cognitive development, reduces days on parental nutrition, and helps shorten the time to achieve full feeds. Own mother\u2019s milk is the first choice for such babies. Delayed initiation of and infrequent breastmilk feeding can affect the establishment of milk supply and result in decreased milk supply and unnecessary use of breast milk substitutes. If the small baby cannot suckle at the breast, it is important to express, starting with the colostrum within an hour of birth to support the onset of lactation. Such mothers should continue to express every 2-3 hours for eight or more sessions during the day, including at night for ensuring no disruption of lactation and milk supply. To achieve low risk of contamination of expressed breast milk, it is very important to ensure hygienic milk collection, storage, and handling practices.<\/p>\n<p>When own mother\u2019s milk is not available, WHO and UNICEF promote the use of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) as the second option in preference to formulas. However, WHO has specified that, this \u201crecommendation (is) relevant for settings where safe and affordable milk-banking facilities are available or can be set up;\u201d The use of formulas as the next option requires counseling the mothers and families on their proper and clean preparation. The use of preterm formulas should only be recommended when the VLBW baby is not gaining weight on standard formula and if it can be afforded. For babies smaller than 1500gm, the WHO recommends adding vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and iron supplements.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Key resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/infant-and-young-child-feeding\">WHO Infant Feeding Recommendations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.who.int\/media\/docs\/default-source\/nutritionlibrary\/breastfeeding\/unicef-who-capture-the-moment-eibf-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=587210cf_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Early Initiation of Breastfeeding to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/question-and-answers-hub\/q-a-detail\/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-breastfeeding\">Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Breastfeeding Q&A (WHO)<\/a> + <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/commentaries\/detail\/breastfeeding-and-covid-19\">Scientific Brief\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Lancet Breastfeeding Series (2016)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/maternal_child_adolescent\/topics\/child\/nutrition\/breastfeeding\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO Resources on Breastfeeding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/breastfeeding-advocacy-toolkit\/\">Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/resource\/who-recommendations-for-care-of-the-preterm-or-low-birth-weight-infant\/\">WHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant (2022)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","post_title":"Breastfeeding and feeding of small and sick newborns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"breastfeeding-and-feeding-of-small-and-sick-newborns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-11-21 12:34:55","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-21 17:34:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/?post_type=issue&p=132","menu_order":0,"post_type":"issue","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"regions":[],"countries":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18722"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7211"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18722\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthynewbornnetwork.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}