Taking care of your newborn baby

The Johannesburg Health District is set to embark on a kangaroo mother care (KMC) awareness campaign to help keep newborn babies warm and reduce the newborn mortality rate.

Kangaroo mother care (or skin-to-skin care), is a simple, easy method of caring for newborn infants by their mothers. In a statement, the district said the method, which has been in use for thousands of years, involved the mother using her own body temperature to keep her infant warm. “The idea of nursing an infant skin-to-skin against the mother’s bare breasts is not new and is particularly useful for nursing low-birth-weight infants.”

Paediatrician in the District Clinical Specialist team, Dr Ramatsimele Mphahlele said the campaign will have two parts to ensure smooth running. “Part one will train about 400 provincial and City of Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services personnel on the proper ways to put babies in a kangaroo position for transfer between the home and the clinic or hospital.

“Part two will be a public information campaign through the media.”

Mphahlele said kangaroo mother care will also be included in all antenatal care clinics’ programmes to strengthen health education to pregnant women.

She further urged pregnant women on the importance of consulting clinics. “They should book for delivery as soon as they feel the baby kicking or playing and prepare warm clothing, also for the baby. [This includes] caps or hats, booties, nappies, towels to dry them, warm fleece and soft blankets that are long or can stretch to tie the baby to the mother’s chest, an extra blanket to cover both baby and mother and clothes for use by the clinic staff to dress them.”

They were also reminded to include clinic cards and gown with these items.

Related articles:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/233737/baby-boxes-save-the-lives-of-abandoned-babies/