How Skin-to-Skin Contact Gives Newborns a Healthier Start

We all used to think only the father’s sperm raced each other and the fastest one entered the egg to form a baby, right? However, in 2020, researchers found that the mother’s egg actually chooses and decides which sperm gets to fertilize it!

Through such an excellent selection process by nature, your baby’s first hour after birth plays a vital role in helping a newborn adjust to life outside the womb. Often called the “Golden Hour,” every moment during this period matters from immediate health assessments to the first breastfeeding attempt.

This early care is especially crucial for vulnerable babies, such as premature newborns and those at risk of neonatal mortality within their first 28 days, giving them the best possible start at growth, health, and survival.

According to UNICEF, Indian babies face a 48% death rate due to neonatal complications and low birth weight. This may be caused either by genetics or parental care during pregnancy, but studies show that with the help of kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), these rates can be reduced without any fancy machines or treatments.

One of the most important practices during this time is skin-to-skin contact, also known as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

It is a simple yet powerful practice that helps regulate your baby’s body temperature, supports breastfeeding, encourages bonding, and can improve outcomes for premature and low-birth-weight babies.

So, what exactly is Kangaroo Mother Care, and why is it so important? Let’s explore.

What is Kangaroo Mother Care, and when did it start?

Kangaroo Mother Care is a method of holding a newborn baby (naked except for a diaper) against the bare chest of either parent (mother or father). This method helps parents and the baby increase their bond.

Kangaroo Mother Care was started in 1978 by Dr. Edgar Rey Sanabria and Dr. Héctor Martínez-Gómez in Bogotá, Colombia. In 1978, they faced a severe shortage of incubators and beds, so they took inspiration from nature specifically “marsupials” (pouched mammals) and named it “Kangaroo Care.” Later, the WHO coined it Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

In the 1980s and 1990s, Western doctors studied and researched this Colombian technique and adopted the medical term “Skin-to-Skin Contact.”

This method was introduced to India in 1994 at BJ Medical College & Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. Later, in 2014, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare officialized it into national policy through the India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) and added it as a standard of care in government Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs).

Benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care:

For both babies and parents, this method will:

• Reduce stress: Helps reduce postpartum stress for both the baby and the parents.
• Reduce blood pressure: A newborn baby’s skin is extremely sensitive, and experiencing cold air and loud sounds for the first time can cause their blood pressure to spike. This method helps reduce that stress for both the mother and the baby.
• Reduce the risk of hypothermia: Reduces the need for incubators, as skin-to-skin contact with the parent helps regulate the baby’s body temperature and prevents heat loss.
• Stabilize the baby’s heart rate: KMC helps reduce high heart rates in both the mother and baby caused by the rush of adrenaline and endorphins during childbirth.
• Regulate breathing patterns: Kangaroo Mother Care helps the baby adjust to a steady breathing rhythm by aligning their irregular breathing with the parent’s breath.

   

Multiple studies on skin-to-skin contact also state that this method helps mothers increase breast milk production.

According to recent studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), the KMC method reduces mortality rates in low-birth-weight babies. Reports also recommend expanding this practice across all hospitals in India.

What to avoid while giving Kangaroo Mother Care:

• Make sure you don’t apply perfumes or lotions to your skin before doing skin-to-skin contact with your baby.
• If you’re feeling sick, avoid this method.
• Avoid it if you have a skin allergy.
• Avoid it if you feel sleepy.
• Avoid it if you are a smoker, as it may cause serious health issues for your baby.

   

Raising a child is a parent’s responsibility, and using this method is a great way to properly share your care and contribution with your baby.

Conclusion:

Skin-to-skin care (aka Kangaroo Care) is one of nature’s best gifts for both parents and babies. Parents are the gateway for their precious baby into this world! As a parent, you always want to give your child the very best, and nature encourages you to give your child something even more special through this method. Share your time and love with your child through Kangaroo Care, and give them the best foundation for healthy growth and development.

Sayee Speciality Hospital – Pediatric Care Unit

24/7 Emergency & Outpatient Services Available.

Contact: 9 976 976 976 | Address: Sayee Hospitals, No 14, Bashyam Street, Radha Nagar Main Road, Chromepet 600 044

Image Credits: Images sourced from Unsplash and Pexels.