Direct skin contact good for preemie

Much skin contact with mothers and fathers has a positive effect on brain development in premature infants, according to the latest communication from the Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) with reference to the results of a study by Canadian researchers from the Université Laval. The method, also known as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), in which the child is laid and covered unclad on a parent's bare chest, can thus compensate for some disadvantages of the premature babies later in life.

14/11/2012

"Babies born before the 33rd week often have difficulty keeping up with the development of timely births," Dr. Ulrich Fegeler, Federal Press Spokesman of the Professional Association of Children and Youth Physicians (BVKJ) in Cologne. However, skin-to-skin contact may accelerate the development of premature babies. The heartbeat of the parents and the warmth of the skin probably provide similar suggestions as they receive babies in the mother's womb, the pediatrician explained the proven positive effect of the kangaroo method.

Skin-to-skin contact with parents is good for development
As part of the Canadian study, researchers at Université Laval were able to show that 15-year-olds who were born premature and who had skin contact with their parents through the KMC method "had comparable brain responses or functions in certain areas as those born at birth ", Reports the BVKJ. For example, 15-year-olds who were not cared for as premature babies with KMC performed worse in areas responsible for motion control or for coordination between the left and right sides of the body. Previous studies have already shown that KMC also has a calming effect on premature babies and better copes with unpleasant experiences such as heel picking, according to the BVKJ communication. Close skin contact of the preemies and parents outside the incubator is therefore urgently recommended. In the end, "not only premature babies benefit from skin contact with parents", but "close contact promotes overall bonding between parents and children and helps the child to calm down more quickly in stressful situations", emphasized the Federal Press Spokesman of the Professional Association of Child and juveniles.

Preemies with increased impairments later in life
Although premature babies can not be consistently with their parents due to their particular vulnerability, current evidence suggests that they should have as much direct contact with mom and dad as possible. Without the incubators, which ensures a special microclimate that protects the children in a special way, the supply of premature babies, however, will not get along for the time being. Especially since many preemies suffer from impairments such as the respiratory distress syndrome, which requires a tube and artificial respiration that takes place in the incubator. However, the previous care of the preemies in the clinics can not remedy the disadvantage of children later in life despite all progress. Thus, studies have found different consequences of premature birth. These range from increased susceptibility to attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma and motor disorders to more severe mental illness. If the KMC method can only compensate for some of these disadvantages, much would have already been gained for the preemies. (Fp)

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