Premature Babies: The Benefits of Human Touch

Premature babies can benefit greatly from the human touch. Research has demonstrated that skin-to-skin contact between a premature infant and the parent promotes healing and speedy development. Much of the science behind the healing power of the human touch is yet to be fully understood.



In stark contrast to a normal birth, the birth of premature babies is clouded in stress and worry because of the condition of the baby. These infants are normally immediately incubated much to the consternation of their parents who have been waiting to hold and caress their new born only to be told it is not possible. The agony of parents is further compounded when doctors inform parents that this situation is likely to continue over the next couple of weeks or months. However, this really should not be the case when dealing with premature babies. In fact, this predicament has a solution whereby parent and child are allowed to develop an attachment while the baby receives natural care and nourishment, as opposed to an impersonal incubator.

Kangaroo Mother Care is a widely accepted method of caring for premature babies much in the same way as an incubator and more. Incubators aim to provide heat to keep the infant warm, while steroids and antibiotics are administered to the little patient to trigger growth and fight infection. On the other hand, the Kangaroo Mother Care encourages parents to nurse their baby. It has been observed that the infant develops faster under this practice while in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (N.I.C.U).

According to Kangaroo Mother Care, the baby should only be wearing a diaper and a hat, and placed on the bare chest of his mother or father. Typically, any person can accept this responsibility but parents are encouraged to do so since, it also aids in baby bonding and attachment. When the mother plays the role of the caregiver, the newborn is nestled between the breasts and lies on its stomach. One of the ears is turned towards the beating heart of the parent; this instinctively stimulates the child’s body to follow suit. Eventually, the child mimics the rhythm of the parent’s beating heart and steady breathing; the result is stabilized vitals. The heat emanating from the parent’s body keeps the young one warm and helps regulate the infant’s temperature.

There are other benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care for premature babies as well. Since the newborn is accustomed to being in tight surroundings while in the womb, and recognizes his mother’s voice and scent, sudden familiarity improves his/her condition. When a weak child is placed in an incubator to fight for his/her life, he is also coupled with extreme stress of being separated from his parent. Much of the small store of energy is wasted distressing and crying. Under Kangaroo Mother Care, the child calms down and stress hormones decrease making way for speedy development.

Premature babies may also be denied breast milk initially since their digestive systems are not fully developed, or they may be unable to suckle. By being placed between their mother’s breasts for long periods of time, premature babies are encouraged to breastfeed, thus receiving quality nourishment and further boosting their immune system.

There are colossal benefits of a mother’s touch for premature babies and full term infants and many of the benefits of the human touch remain undocumented as an Australian mother recently found out when her baby literally came back from the dead following Kangaroo Mother Care.



For more information about Kangaroo Mother Care please visit http://themiracleofkangaroomothercare.com Tony and Nyrie Roos are a resource for natural parenting practices and kangaroo mother care.