A premature baby needs a “kangaroo” mother and reassuring skin-to-skin contact when he is born, according to the results of a study conducted by Grands challenges Canada. This method would reduce the risk of early mortality in infants, but also that they grow up healthy and with better cognitive development in adulthood.
Researchers from the Canadian government organization “Grands challenges Canada” and the Kangaroo Foundation in Colombia conducted a study with 264 infants born prematurely between 1993 and 1996 to understand the benefits of the incubator and the “skin to skin” “. They found the children 20 years later to draw their conclusions.
Pollution would promote premature births
Promote skin to skin for premature babies
Premature and low birth weight infants were randomized at birth to receive either skin-to-skin massage or traditional care until they could maintain their own body temperature.
Researchers have documented the short- and medium-term benefits of skin-to-skin skin on infant survival, brain development, breastfeeding, and the quality of the mother-to-child bond.
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The results of the study revealed that the “skin to skin” offered significant protection against early mortality. The death rate in the control group (7.7%) was more than double that of the skin-to-skin group (3.5%).
In adulthood, they are less prone to aggressive, impulsive and hyperactive behavior than babies in the control group. The researchers also noticed that their families are more cohesive and that these adults have more developed brains.
“This study shows that skin to skin can make all the difference for premature and low birth weight babies,” said Dr. Karlee Silver, Vice President of Grand Challenges Canada. “Skin-to-skin is a modern, cost-effective method of care that can and should be applied in all countries.”
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