Reacción a "Reactions: WHO recommends immediate skin-to-skin contact instead of incubator for premature and low birth weight infants"

The benefits of early skin-to-skin contact after birth have been demonstrated in several studies over the last few years, which has led to it becoming part of the standard of care after birth for all newborns who do not require resuscitation measures after birth (Ministry of Health recommendations 2010). Skin-to-skin contact provides greater stability to the newborn, decreases the risk of hypothermia (which is an independent mortality factor) and increases the likelihood of breastfeeding, which is a known factor that decreases the risk of nosocomial [hospital] infections and mortality in preterm infants.    

Other benefits are:    

• Increased stability of the neonate and increased duration and quality of sleep.   
• Decreased pain during painful procedures.    
• Decreased parental anxiety and improved confidence in their competence.  

A study in the journal NEJM published in May 2021 suggests that, compared to the practice of immediate separation of the preterm infant after birth, starting kangaroo mother care as soon as possible after birth may save up to 150,000 more lives each year.    

It was already known from meta-analysis studies that kangaroo mother care was effective, reducing mortality by 40% among hospitalised birthweight infants (< 2 kg) when initiated once they are clinically stable. However, this study demonstrated an additional 25% reduction when initiated immediately after birth with either the mother or father.