Mothers with skin-to-skin contact with their babies significantly reduce the risk of death and disability from premature birth, says experts cited by the BBC News. According to Professor Joy Lawn of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, intensive care is not the answer to helping babies born prematurely. “The lungs are not fully developed in babies born before 32 weeks gestation and infants must be helped to breathe. But in other cases, skin-to-skin care is preferable because it promotes breastfeeding. helps regulate body temperature and reduces the risk of infection, ”says the researcher.
According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15 million babies are born prematurely each year, which is more than one in 10 babies worldwide. “About a million premature babies die each year, and many more suffer from lifelong disability. It is estimated that three-quarters of these premature babies could survive if effective and often inexpensive care were provided,” continues WHO.
Studies which, according to BBC, will be published this weekend in the journal Pediatric reported a premature birth risk rate of 14% superior in boys than in girls. They are also more likely to die or grow up with a disability, learning disability or cerebral palsy.
Duncan Wilbur, of the British charity Bliss, recalls in the article that “in the United Kingdom medical technology is extremely advanced, but the simple act of practicing skin-to-skin with the baby can help him to recover. more regular breathing and heartbeat and, most importantly, bonding with his parents. “
