“Kangaroo mother care,” a type of newborn care involving skin-to-skin contact with the mother or other caregiver, reduces mortality in infants with low birth weight (<2.0 kg) when initiated after stabilization, but the majority of deaths occur before stabilization. The safety and efficacy of kangaroo mother care initiated soon after birth among infants with low birth weight are uncertain.
The results of this new clinical trial published in May 2021 provide evidence in support of starting KMC immediately after birth, a clear message that keeping mothers and babies together helps babies to survive and thrive.
Key Findings
- Starting KMC immediately after birth in newborns with birthweight of 1000 grams to 1799 grams has the potential to save up to 150,000 more lives each year (a further increase in survival of 25%), compared with the current recommendation of starting it only once a baby is stable.
- Mother-Newborn Intensive Care Units will be critical to support the mother, or a surrogate, in providing this immediate, ongoing skin-to-skin contact from birth.