A new study suggests that immediate kangaroo mother care, with skin-to-skin contact with the mother and exclusive breastfeeding, initiated as soon as a preterm or low birth weight baby is born, can improve survival considerably.

At present, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations suggest initiating kangaroo mother care once the baby is stabilized in an incubator or warmer, which may take an average of 3-7 days. However, the new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that in comparison with the current practice, starting kangaroo mother care immediately following birth can potentially save up to 150,000 more lives every year… (WHO)