XL23: Translating Evidence into Practice: Birth kangaroo care
WHO/UNICEF recently revised the interpretation of Step 4 of the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to read "Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour. Encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to breastfeed and offer help if needed." (BFHI, Section 1, 2009, p. 34). Since as early as 2000, international, national and professional organizations have recommended placing all newborns in skin-to-skin contact (Birth Kangaroo Care, BKC) starting immediately after birth and leaving them there until after the first breastfeeding is completed.
Thus, it is necessary for birth practices to change so BKC with breastfeeding is routine care. However, such a change in care is not easy as it means changing culture within birthing units and changing well-established behaviors and habits of health care providers. The evidence is compelling as to the benefits of both BKC and breastfeeding, now BKC with breastfeeding needs to be translated into practice.
Steps to translate BKC with breastfeeding into practice will be presented through examples of implementation projects in the United States, followed by discussion of BKC implementation in other countries.
- Lecturer:
- Barbara Morrison PhD, CNM, FNP
- Synopsis:
- Following recommendations from international, national and professional organizations health professionals in birthing units should be placing newborns immediately into skin-to-skin contact (Birth Kangaroo Care BKC) with their mother. This presentation looks at the challenges of changing practices, cultures and habits of health care providers to facilitate the changes in practice necessary.
- CERPs:
- 1 L CERPs / 1 Lactation Specific Hours
- Cost:
- US$25
- Access period:
- One week
- Lecture recorded at:
- GOLD10
Dr. Barbara Morrison is a nurse midwife, family nurse practitioner, and assistant professor of nursing. She has been working with and for parents and their newborns for 28 years, assisting with their births and early parenting.
Her research interests focus on breastfeeding, kangaroo (skin-to-skin) care for full-term infants, and developing a hospital environment that promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding. Dr. Morrison has a special interest in the neuro-endocrine and neuro-biological effects of kangaroo care that lead to strong social attachments and exclusive breastfeeding.
